What I've learned since moving to D.C. (some of which should be obvious): 0246

12251.  The ski resort town of Ifrane was built by the French in the 1930s.  It was founded in 1929 and was designed to look like a Swiss village with high-pitched roofs and chalet-style buildings.  Ifrane was conceived as a “hill station” or colonial settlement for French families during the protectorate era.  It’s becoming known as Africa’s “Little Switzerland;”

12252.  Ifrane is also home to Al Akhawayn University;

12253.  Apparently, the monkeys in the Atlas Mountains are the same kind of monkeys in Gibraltar;

12254.  There are turkeys in Morocco;

12255.  There are a lot of feral/wild dogs in the Atlas Mountains;

12256.  In Morocco, religion and politics are separate;

12257.  In Morocco, religion is considered private between you and God;

12258.  In Morocco, the government owns the forests and the tribes have rights to the grasslands;

12259.  There are cedar, oak and juniper trees in the Middle Atlas Mountains;

12260.  In Morocco, it costs between 10,000 to 15,000 dirhams (i.e., $1,000.00 USD to $1,600.00 USD) for a mule;

12261.  In Morocco, “kasbah” means “fortress” or “large house;”

12262.  There are 4 watchtowers in a kasbah; one in each corner;

12263.  “Riad” means “garden;”

12264.  Riads have a central courtyard with a garden and fountain;

12265.  “Dar” means “house;”

12266.  In Morocco, most of the highways are (only) 2 lanes;

12267.  In Morocco, lamb/sheep meat (generally) costs more than goat( meat);

12268.  “Sudan” means “land of the blacks” in Arabic;

12269.  Supposedly, the white camels in Morocco are from Algeria and Mali;

12270.  Supposedly, the white camels in Morocco are faster and cheaper( than the brown and black camels);

12271.  Supposedly, the brown and black camels in Morocco are from Morocco and are stronger and more expensive( than the white camels);

12272.  The Sahara (Desert) is getting bigger every year;

12273.  The Sahara is the 3^rd largest desert in the world;

12274.  The Sahara is the largest hot desert in the world;

12275.  The Sahara covers 9.2 million sq km (i.e., 3.6 million sq mi);

12276.  Apparently, if it gets windy in the Sahara( Desert), you should stay/stick with the locals and the camels;

12277.  There is a ban on desert camps in the Merzouga region of the Sahara( for environmental reasons), resulting in no (desert) camps in the middle of the desert and only camps on the (outer) edges( of the Sahara);

12278.  I can say I’ve ridden a camel in the Sahara( Desert);

12279.  I can I've been glamping in the Sahara( Desert);

12280.  Getting a hand job in the Sahara( Desert), while glamping . . . check . . . a blowjob . . . (double) check . . . sex . . . (triple) check;

12281.  Apparently, it’s very windy in the Sahara (Desert) at night;

12282.  When glamping, you should get the tents closer to the front.  Apparently, the water will be hotter;

12283.  Apparently, camels can carry people at the age of 7;

12284.  In Morocco, camels can live for 25 years;

12285.  Apparently, date (palm) trees begin to bear fruit between 4 and 8 years after planting;

12286.  Date (palm) trees can live for 100 years;

12287.  In Morocco, there’s a popular avocado smoothie called ZaaZaa.  It’s mainly avocado blended with milk and sweetened with dates, honey or sugar.  It’s typically served in layers including sliced fruit (like bananas and kiwi), syrups (such as chocolate, caramel or strawberry), nuts (such as almonds, cashews, pistachios and walnuts), treats (like crushed Oreos or pieces of Kit Kat bars) and whipped cream;

12288.  You can use compressed air to dust yourself off and your scooter/motorcycle;

12289.  In Morocco, children in the countryside typically go to school Monday through Saturday for 4 hours/day either in the mornings or afternoons or a combination thereof.  Children in the cities typically go to school Monday through Friday for 4 hours/day for both the mornings and (the) afternoons;

12290.  In the Sahara region of Morocco, if a woman wears a sari/saree, you can determine/identify her (Amazigh/Berber) tribe by the color of her sari/saree.  Each (Amazigh/Berber) tribe has a different color or colors;

12291.  In the Sahara region of Morocco, a woman’s tattoos describe her family lineage.  So two women with different tattoos means they are from different (Amazigh/Berber) tribes;

12292.  In Morocco, women typically don't cut their hair.  Long hair is considered beautiful;

12293.  In Morocco, a man and a woman cannot live together if they are not married( to each other);

12294.  In Morocco, the husband is usually older than his wife;

12295.  The (Amazigh/Berber) tribes have historically inhabited the rural and mountainous regions of Morocco;

12296.  In Morocco, you marry in the same tribe;

12297  Moroccan Muslims pay a zakat.  It’s a mandatory payment of 2.5% of their income/savings as well as 10% of their crops.  It goes to the poor, needy and other designated charitable causes;

12298.  In Morocco, they have pineapple, mojito (i.e., lime and mint) and orange-flavored Schweppes;

12299.  Morocco has wild sheep and goats;

12300.  Apparently, donkeys will roam around on their own and, at the end of the day, will return to their owners( because they know their owners will feed them);

What I've learned since moving to D.C. (some of which should be obvious): 0245

12201.  Most people in Morocco don’t have bank accounts.  They (just) don’t trust banks.  They’ll (usually) borrow money from family (members) and friends without having to pay interest.  The charging of interest is forbidden by Sharia law;

12202.  Most Moroccans are Muslim.  And because of last prayer, Moroccans can eat dinner very late.  Sometimes at 10 o’clock to 11 o’clock at night depending on the time of year;

12203.  Dacia is the cheapest and most popular automobile/car in Morocco.  There’s a Dacia (manufacturing) plant in Casablanca;

12204.  Apparently, in Morocco, only people in the cities pay taxes.  The people in the countryside don’t pay taxes.  The people in the countryside (usually) don’t have bank accounts so it’s hard to determine someone’s income there;

12205.  Apparently, the round stickers on automobiles/cars with the number, 90, in them mean the person in the car is a new driver and that that is the maximum speed (in km/h) s/he is allowed to drive.  The person has the sticker for 6 months;

12206.  In Morocco, arranged marriages are more of a suggestion than a command/demand.  The potential husband or bride can say “no;”

12207.  In Morocco, the mothers/moms arrange the marriages/make the wedding suggestions (i.e., “Mother Tinder”). . . . After the wedding, they’ll be spending more time with their daughters-in-law than their sons will;

12208.  The mothers/moms get to know the girls at the hammam (i.e., public bath) and can pick girls they think will be a good match for their sons.  The mothers/moms also get to see the girls’ bodies when they bath( at the hammam);

12209.  In Morocco, boys are not friends with girls and vice versa.  They do not talk, play or interact with each/one other outside of school.  The boys are friends with boys and the girls are friends with girls;

12210.  In Morocco, it is common for boys to hold hands with boys and for girls to hold hands with girls, but boys do not hold hands with girls;

12211.  In Morocco, you can marry your first cousin;

12212.  In Morocco, it is easier to get a divorce before you have children;

12213.  In Morocco, the town of Moulay Idriss Zerhoun is considered a holy place.  It’s the site of the tomb of Idris I;

12214.  Idris I was the first ruler of the Idrisid dynasty;

12215.  Idris I was a descendant of (the Islamic prophet,) Muhammad;

12216.  Volubilis was the most western city in Africa of the Roman Empire;

12217.  Apparently, a population of 20,000 people qualifies as a municipality in the Roman Empire;

12218.  In Morocco, there are usually 3 coffee shops next to each other;

12219.  In Morocco, 80-90% of coffee shop patrons are men;

12220.  In Morocco, men go to coffee shops, women (and children) go to parks;

12221.  In the past, the jobless (men) in Morocco would go to coffee shops and sit there all day;

12222.  Moroccan chicken pie (i.e., chicken pastilla) is like a slightly sweet, curry chicken in puff pastry. . . . It reminds me of a curry chicken empanada or a curry chicken pasty, but (made) with puff pastry;

12223.  The biggest and most famous Moroccan Royal Palace is in Fes;

12224.  The Royal Palace of Fes encompasses over 83 hectares;

12225.  There are 7 gates entering into the Royal Palace of Fes;

12226.  There is a 9-hole golf course within the walls of the Royal Palace of Meknes;

12227.  (Pitted) dates (stuffed) with walnuts are delicious. . . Who knew?

12228.  Apparently, you can make bread out of couscous;

12229.  The medina in Fes is the oldest medina in the world;

12230.  The University of al-Qarawiyyin in Fes is the oldest, continuously functioning university in the world.  It was founded in 857;

12231.  There are over 300 mosques in Fes;

12232.  Fes is considered the spiritual and cultural capital of Morocco;

12233.  Green is the color of Islam;

12234.  The world’s oldest, operating tannery (i.e., Chouara Tannery) is in Fes;

12235.  Mint is a natural air freshener;

12236.  There is camel (skin) and goatskin leather besides cowhide leather;

12237.  Apparently, real leather will not burn when (you) put (it) to a lighter;

12238.  Goatskin leather is very lightweight, camel (skin) is heavier and cowhide is the heaviest;

12239.  Apparently, (real) leather made with all natural materials will not smoke when (you) put (it) to a lighter;

12240.  You can make fabric from cactus fibers (i.e., agave silk). . . . Who knew?

12241.  Historically, every neighborhood in a medina has a mosque, a hammam, a public oven and a public (water) fountain. . . . Nowadays, they also have a public school and the public fountain has been replaced with piped water;

12242.  A wood(en) arch indicates you’re entering a different/new neighborhood (with a different family) in the medina(s);

12243.  Apparently, some houses in the medinas have donkey garages/stables;

12244.  In Morocco, it costs between $300.00 USD to $400.00 USD for a donkey;

12245.  In Morocco, the trash is taken out by donkey in the medinas;

12246.  In Morocco, the Mid(dle) Atlas (Mountains) is/are known for growing apples and cherries;

12247.  Moroccans don't eat pig/pork, but Morocco has a lot of wild boars/pigs;

12248.  Moroccan farmers wait for the first rain before picking olives;

12249.  If it rains for 2 days, Moroccan farmers will wait 2 days before picking olives.  Apparently, the (olive) oil will go back to the fruit from the tree limbs after 2 days;

12250.  You can ski in Morocco;