King on banknotes and dentists in the markets: interesting facts about Morocco

Morocco is one of the most popular African countries among tourists. People come here for its amazing beaches, charming architecture, and, surprisingly enough, ski resorts. The country welcomes foreigners, who ensure the rapid growth of its economy and improve the living standards of ordinary people.

But what lies behind the pretty picture of Morocco? Let's find out.

• Most of the country's population is Arab. But everyone who speaks this language is called "Arab" here. So, if you want to get an extra discount somewhere, upgrade your hotel room, or just bargain for a couple of dollars on souvenirs, say a few phrases in Arabic. The attitude towards you will change dramatically for the better.
• For a long time (from 1912 to 1956), Morocco was ruled by France. This had a significant impact on the lives of the locals. Although French is not the second official language of this country, it is spoken by a large part of the population. A lot of locals also speak Berber and English.

• The Arabic name of the state is "Al-Mamlaka al-Maghribiya". This means "Western Kingdom". In general, the state was named in honor of its ancient capital, the city of Marrakech. In turn, this is translated from Berber as "Holy Land". This reflects very well the real attitude of people to their homeland.
• Today, Rabat is considered the capital of Morocco. This city is particularly popular among tourists.
• The oldest settlement in the country is Tangier. It was founded around 1600 BC. The Phoenicians were the first to settle in this territory. Then power passed from one nation to another. And from 1922 to 1956, these lands were ruled by representatives of eight colonizing powers at once.

• Morocco is significantly different from other African countries. The country has a fairly high level of GDP per capita, closely cooperates with Western countries, in particular the United States, and cares about economic development. However, it also has problems typical of the region, such as unemployment and rapid demographic growth.
• By the way, it is the only country in the region that is not a member of the African Union. In 1984, it suspended its membership, focusing on cooperation with European and American allies, as well as NATO.
• Morocco has one of the most progressive constitutions in Africa. Although the country is ruled by a king, there are still democratic sentiments here.
• An interesting fact is that the appearance of local banknotes directly depends on who is in charge. Thus, when a new monarch is elected to the throne, his or her face is printed on the banknotes. This tradition has not been broken for many years.

• Morocco is home to extremely religious people. Thus, at gas stations, train stations, and other public places, you can see special rooms where people can pray in peace. In addition, Friday is considered a holy day when all locals go to perform rituals at a certain time.
• By the way, the tallest religious building in the world is located in Morocco. This is the minaret of the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca, which is 200 meters high.

• Moroccans love to bargain. They do it absolutely always and everywhere. Therefore, getting the best price can be called a local entertainment that brings pleasure to both sellers and customers. If you pay the full amount for the goods at once, you will simply cease to be respected.

• At the local markets you will meet not only sellers, but also "dentists". You can recognize them by the pliers on the stalls. Since there are very few dentists in the country, about one per 800,000 people, their role is performed by people without specialized education. Teeth are rarely treated here, by the way, they are often simply removed.
• Many cult films and TV series were shot in Morocco. In particular, such films as Game of Thrones, Black Widow, Men in Black. International, Gladiator, and Atlantis.

• Food is taken quite seriously in an African country. It is not customary here to hold a spoon or fork in the left hand, because according to local traditions, this means disrespect for others.

• The most popular dish is couscous. But rice as a side dish is rarely seen here. More often it is stuffed with meat or used to make pudding.
• By the way, pigeon meat is sold here along with chicken and lamb. It is very popular among the locals, but it is rarely served in tourist restaurants.
• Moroccans are also fond of pickled lemons. They are often added to salads or various main dishes, including stews.

• Although Morocco is not a poor country, not everyone here has a car. That's why you can often see 6-7 people in one car. And not everyone follows the rules of the road here.
• We do not recommend that you wear white clothes in Morocco. This color is considered mourning, so people can approach you on the street and express their condolences. They will think that someone close to you has died.

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