What I've learned since moving to D.C. (some of which should be obvious): 0244

12151.  3,000 craftsmen worked on the Hassan II Mosque;

12152.  The Hassan II Mosque can accommodate 25,000 worshippers in the main floor/hall and another 80,000 worshippers in the plaza square;

12153.  The men are downstairs in the main floor/hall of the Hassan II Mosque, while the women are upstairs;

12154.  There are more than 8,000 LED lights in the Hassan II Mosque;

12155.  The doors of the Hassan II Mosque are made of titanium;

12156.  The roof of the Hassan II Mosque retracts creating an opening of 3,400 square meters;

12157.  (Walking in) the side corridor of the main hall of the Hassan II Mosque looks like some place in a science fiction movie to me( like the Fremen war council in “Dune: Part Two”);

12158.  Most people in Morocco work in agriculture;

12159.  Most people in Morocco use public transportation because automobiles/cars and gas/petrol are expensive;

12160.  Most families in Morocco don’t have cars;

12161.  In Morocco, sometimes 3-4 generations live in the same household;

12162.  In Morocco, daughters live with their husband’s family;

12163.  In Morocco, sons live in their parents’ house;

12164.  Apparently, a lot of Moroccans go/travel to the beach in June and July when the weather is hot;

12165.  Most Moroccan couples have 4-5 children/kids in the country and 3-4 children/kids in the cities;

12166.  There’s an IKEA in Casablanca;

12167.  Morocco grows a lot of wheat and barley;

12168.  Moroccans eat a lot of bread even more than the French;

12169.  Moroccans eat so much bread that they even import wheat;

12170.  Morocco’s economy is based mainly on tourism, manufacturing (i.e., automobiles and textiles), agriculture and exporting phosphate;

12171.  Morocco has the largest phosphate reserves in the world;

12172.  Morocco produces very little petroleum.  It imports 90% of its energy needs;

12173.  Moroccans eat a meat (and bread) heavy diet.  There are no vegetarians in Morocco;

12174.  Apparently, in Morocco, if you don’t provide a meat dish to your guests, it means you don’t want them to come back. . . . Fish is not considered meat;

12175.  Morocco generates electricity through coal, wind, solar and dams (i.e., hydroelectrical);

12176.  Most families in Morocco make their own olive oil;

12177.  Moroccans can go to University in Morocco for free;

12178.  Africans can also go to University in Morocco for free;

12179.  The capital (city) of Morocco is Rabat.  It was moved from Fes;

12180.  In Morocco, school attendance is compulsory up to the age of 13;

12181.  The Moroccan government makes small cash payments for girls to go to school in rural areas to compensate for them not helping out around the house;

12182.  In Morocco, most families have picnics in the woods instead of going out to eat;

12183.  In Morocco, if you go out to eat at a restaurant, you have to take the whole (extended) family out to eat;

12184.  Apparently, Moroccans in the countryside don’t celebrate (wedding) anniversaries or birthdays.  Moroccans in the countryside may not know the exact day they were born;

12185.  Morocco produces avocados;

12186.  Apparently, Moroccans bring a bottle of olive oil to other people’s houses instead of wine;

12187.  Moroccan coffee is made with a blend of spices, most commonly including cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, nutmeg, cloves and black pepper;

12188.  Apparently, a cappuccino in Morocco has chocolate/cocoa powder in it;

12189.  Moroccans drink thé a la menthe (i.e., green tea with mint) with a lot of sugar;

12190.  Apparently, to a Moroccan, tea without sugar is just hot water;

12191.  In the Moroccan countryside, donkeys and mules are used for work and transportation;

12192.  In the countryside, Moroccans will keep a couple of goats with their sheep flock.  Apparently, the goats will lead the sheep to new places to graze.  Dogs are used to keep the flock together;

12193.  In Morocco, all of the work in the Atlas Mountains is done by hand (and) not (by) machines;

12194.  Morocco reinstated compulsory military service/training for men (aged 19-25) in 2019.  It’s optional/voluntary for women and Moroccans living abroad;

12195.  Moroccans do not drink a lot of beer and wine (because of religious and cultural reasons);

12196.  Morocco exports wine and beer (i.e., Casablanca, Spéciale Flag and Stork);

12197.  The sugar in Morocco comes from (locally grown) beets and sugar cane.  Morocco also imports sugar to meet demand;

12198.  In Morocco, camel milk is popular;

12199.  In Morocco, they eat dates in odd numbers.  Eating dates in odd numbers is an Islamic tradition particularly when breaking fast on the day of Eid al-Fitr;

12200.  In Morocco, 7 is considered a lucky number;

What I've learned since moving to D.C. (some of which should be obvious): 0243

12101.  They have standalone (McDonald's) McCafés in Morocco;

12102.  In Morocco, McDonald’s sells fried (Gouda or chili) cheese bites;

12103.  Apparently, the standard (soft) drink size in Morocco is 12 ounces;

12104.  The blackberry McFizz at McDonald’s (in Morocco) is (really) tasty.  It’s better than the grapefruit one, but the grapefruit McFizz is still good;

12105.  There are a lot of feral/wild cats in Casablanca;

12106.  In Morocco, (fresh) fish is priced per 100 grams, but you have to buy/purchase the entire fish;

12107.  I can say I've had John Dory;

12108.  Getting a hand job in Casablanca . . . check . . . a blowjob . . . (double) check . . . sex . . . (triple) check;

12109.  (I can say) I got railroaded to an unsolicited walking tour in (the Old Medina/City of) Casablanca;

12110.  Casablanca reminds me of Istanbul;

12111.  Casablanca . . . the city where feral/wild chickens and dogs are friends;

12112.  You can buy live chickens in the Old Medina/City of Casablanca;

12113.  The argan tree only grows in Morocco;

12114.  Supposedly, a liter of (high quality) cactus oil can cost (up to) 3,000 euros;

12115.  Apparently, the (feral/wild) cats in Casablanca like (tagine) chicken skin . . . and cartilage;

12116.  Apparently, Mohammed V Square (in Casablanca) is the pigeon pickup spot;

12117.  There are white and black pigeons;

12118.  Apparently, Mohammed V Square (in Casablanca) is known as “Pigeons’ Square” to the locals;

12119.  Apparently, the architecture in Casablanca is a mix of Art Deco and Art Nouveau (i.e., Cas d’Art Deco);

12120.  Casablanca is the largest city in Morocco with over 4 million people;

12121.  Originally, Casablanca was a modestly sized port with a population of about 20,000 people;

12122.  Morocco is a “quasi-democracy.”  The prime minister is elected( by the people), but there is a monarch;

12123.  The King of Morocco oversees foreign diplomacy, while the prime minister oversees domestic issues;

12124.  The King of Morocco appoints the prime minister from the political party that has won the most seats in the (parliamentary) elections;

12125.  The King of Morocco cannot appoint government ministers (the prime minister does), but he can dismiss/remove them;

12126.  There are 36 political parties in Morocco;

12127.  Apparently, only about 10% of the Moroccan population votes in local elections;

12128.  Apparently, some Moroccans are paid for their votes;

12129.  Casablanca is sometimes called Maghreb, which means “the west” or “the land where the sun sets;”

12130.  “Medina” means “city/town.”  When Moroccans say “medina,” they’re referring to the old walled city;

12131.  The souk is the market in the medina;

12132.  Apparently, there’s a 1,500 to 3,000 dirham (i.e., $150.00 USD to $300.00 USD) fine for feeding the stray animals in Morocco;

12133.  In Morocco, students receive a small stipend to attend University;

12134.  In Morocco, there is a historical decree from the French protectorate that only allows Muslims to enter mosques, Jews to enter synagogues and Christians to enter churches.  The only exceptions are the Tin Mal Mosque (which can be visited on days other than Friday) and the Hassan II Mosque (which offers guided tours to non-Muslims);

12135.  Polygamy is allowed in Morocco; however, the husband must get consent from the first wife;

12136.  Only about 5,000 out of 38 million people in Morocco have multiple wives;

12137.  Apparently, it’s not worth haggling over the price of food in Morocco.  The prices (generally) reflect the cost;

12138.  There’s a “Rick’s Café” (RicksCafe.ma) in Casablanca.  It’s a replica from the movie, “Casablanca.”  It was opened in 2004 by Kathy Kriger, a former American diplomat and commercial attaché in Morocco;

12139.  Apparently the grocery stores in Morocco don’t like to make change for big bills (i.e., 100 and 200 dirham bills);

12140.  In Morocco, you can be fined for not wearing your seatbelt;

12141.  In Morocco, you tip with the right hand and you’re supposed to hide the amount. . . . A tip is considered a private act between the two parties;

12142.  In Morocco, there’s a minimum of 10 dirhams for tipping;

12143.  In Morocco, any bathroom/restroom without an attendant or a bowl is free( to use);

12144.  In Morocco, a person typically pays 1 to 2 dirhams to use a public bathroom/restroom;

12145.  You enter a mosque with your right foot;

12146.  Bourbon/whiskey with pomegranate (juice) is pretty good;

12147.  The Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca is the 13^th largest mosque (by capacity) in the world;

12148.  The 2 largest mosques (by capacity) in the world are in Mecca and Medina, respectively, both in Saudi Arabia;

12149.  The Hassan II Mosque (only) took 7 years to build/construct;

12150.  It took only 17 months to build the concrete superstructure of the Hassan II Mosque;