Al Masmak fortress in Riyadh

Jennifer had prearranged for us all to be picked up at the house to tour the Al Masmak fortress in the old city. It is through part of the Scientists gift program, a non profit that introduces the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's various cultural components to all highly ranked Non Arabic scientists, elite and professionals. It has since been expanded to the Military and tourists so we can better understand the cultural values of the country.
Our guides were a fellow who came from Australia when he was 16 (Joseph) who has been educated at the King Saud University where he is currently doing his doctorate in Arabic language and a young man from Suddan (Ali) who brought his falcon along. ( a retired bird who no longer hunts) We had a fabulous tour through Al Masmak fortress, a beautiful adobe exterior construction in the heart of Old Riyadh. This was where King "Abd al Aziz" in 1902 was able to recapture this fort and then spent the next 30 years unifying the country which in 1902 was declared the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
It was a fabulous comprehensive tour (Saud) explaining the history, culture of welcome, relationship with ones neighbours, lineage, prayer and understanding of Islam, etc.
Afterwards we were taken to the souk (market/stores) where Roger was outfitted and gifted Saudi clothes, and Jennifer and I were given lovely cashmere scarves. We smelled various oud (fragrant wood) visited the carpets market, saw antique shops, and making the agal, (the black rope to keep on the mans ghutrah, (head scarf.) etc.
Afterwards we were taken to a traditional restaurant, the Najd Village, a two story adobe open centre building that had beautiful hand painted doors and shutters, and individual rooms where you sat on the floor and ate a typical dinner was brought to you. After dinner we were presented with more traditional gifts. It was a highlight of our visit to Saudi Arabia, I have learnt so much, it was overwhelmingly generous, and we feel so blessed to have been so welcomed, not only through this program, but by the people that Jennifer works with and the friendliness of the Saudi's in general. We are so lucky to have been guests in this country as part of their 2030 vision for Saudi Arabia. They certainly have impressed us. We have enjoyed our Arabic lessons (3 in all) and have at least 30 words we are now comfortable with. Our guide was explaining to us that Arabic is a language that is not derived from other languages.
Yesterday on our last evening we attended the Cirque de Soleil *Bazzar" which was awesome. We feel somewhat sad to leave today as it has been an amazing experience and Jennifers hospitality could not be improved upon. We are off to the Netherlands tonight.