Welcome to Casablanca, Morocco's largest city and commercial hub! This bustling metropolis is full of surprises. Let me give you a quick tour of some of Casablanca's quirkiest facts.

First off, Casablanca is home to the world's third largest mosque, the Hassan II Mosque. This imposing structure juts out into the Atlantic Ocean on an artificial platform - which gives you a fun fact two for one. Not only is it huge, but it's also partially built on water! Apparently the builders ran out of space on land. The mosque can accommodate 105,000 worshippers at once. Let's hope they have a good HVAC system in that place!

Another oddity is Rick's Café, a bar and restaurant modeled after the famous gin joint in the classic film Casablanca. The restaurant is filled with nostalgic decor recreating the movie set. I half expected to see Humphrey Bogart nursing a glass of bourbon. But alas, no Bogie sightings for me.

Here's a wild fact - Casablanca has the only Jewish museum in the entire Arab world. The Museum of Moroccan Judaism commemorates the long history of Jews in the country. Who knew Morocco had a thriving Jewish community? Not me!

Get ready for this next one - Casablanca is home to a giant artificial forest called Sindibad Forest Park. It's not actually a real forest, but a Disney-esque recreation complete with artificial lakes and animated animals. Nothing says nature quite like fake woodland creatures!

My favorite oddity was stumbling upon the giant broken clock tower. It looms over the city as a massive relic from the past. Apparently it hasn't told time since the 1960s. The hands are frozen permanently at five minutes to midnight. How's that for an ominous landmark?

Now for a fact that's just plain weird - the city has wild boars roaming the streets! You may encounter one while strolling through town. The large pigs feast on trash and get quite hefty. Just watch your step and don't get between a boar and its dinner.

Get your umbrellas ready - Casablanca has only 35 days of rain per year on average. Coming from rainy Seattle, a place with precipitation under 40 days sounded magical to me. Plus, this gives locals even more incentive to enjoy the beautiful beaches.

Here's a handy tip: don't flush toilet paper in Casablanca! The plumbing is too delicate for paper. Make sure to put used toilet paper in the waste basket instead. When in Morocco, do as the Moroccans do!

I saved the best for last - the city has its own replica of the Statue of Liberty! France gifted Lady Liberty to the U.S. in 1886, and also sent smaller versions to both Paris and Casablanca. While only one-fourth the size of the New York statue, it's still a great photo-op. Just don't ask her for directions, she's French after all.

Well that concludes our whirlwind tour of crazy Casablanca facts! I had no idea one city could pack so many surprises. From giant mosques to forest parks, wild boars to broken clock towers, this unique metropolis always keeps you on your toes. So come visit Casablanca, and prepare to have your mind blown by all the curiosities. Just don't forget to leave the toilet paper out of the toilet!

Here are some additional facts about Casablanca City:

- Casablanca has over 30 cinemas, more per capita than any other city. Locals are really into movies!

- The city is home to the oldest stock exchange in Africa, established in 1929 during French colonial rule.

- Casa Voyageurs is Africa’s largest train station. The ornate building has intricate tilework and grand architecture.

- Surf’s up in Casablanca! The beaches of Anfa and Ain Diab are popular spots for surfing, windsurfing and kitesurfing.

- Couscous is the signature dish of Casablanca. Locals typically eat the steamed semolina 2-3 times per week.

- The massive King Hassan II Mosque has a laser beam projected from it towards Mecca. Now that's devotion!

- Casablanca has its own replica of Paris’s iconic Arc de Triomphe. It’s much smaller but still impressive.

- The city has a thriving art deco scene with ornate architecture from the 1920s and 30s.

- Casablanca is home to over 10 universities including some of Africa’s top institutions.