Riyadh Saudi Arabia

Jennifer was at the airport to meet us, a very joyous reunion. We are one of the first visitors on Tourist Visas since Saudi opened its doors for their 2030 vision. I was grateful that Jennifer welcomed me with an abaya as all the women were wearing them. We drove to Jens place in her Mitsubishi SUV and were greeted with a big welcome sign on her door. Her neighbour Helene had left us an array of Saudi sweets which Roger managed to sample. We packed our clothes for the adventure planned for the next day to the Arabian Shield in the desert 2.5 hours away.
The next morning we drove to a gas station where we met up with several cars of friends who were in the camping group. As we arrived at the desert, radios were set up to insure all the cars were in communication and accounted for. We passed herds of camels and eventually arrived at the rock formations in the Arabian Shield. We set up our cots to sleep under the stars (exactly under the 7 sisters, the pliades, a banquet of food was assembled, we feasted, sat around a campfire, looked at scorpions in the sand under blue flashlights and some of us slept.
The next morning we had a breakfast feast. Jens group is lovely: a Canadian who has been in Saudi for 21 years, a fellow from Brazil, a Lebanese/greek family, a Brit, and us. Sarah made chocolate cake for Rogers' 75 birthday breakfast in the desert.
After unpacking, Jen took us to the Ritz for birthday cake and hot chocolate.
 The next day we were ready for a rest. Then Jen took us to the souk where Roger was completely outfitted with an Arabian thobe.
Monday, I went to school with Jen at 7 am to teach a few aspects of photography to 2 of her grade 3 classes and then had them take photos of fruits and vegetables with my camera for a still life. Then I got to help with making prints of snowflakes with her grade 1 class. After school we had an Arabic lesson with Dr Basma at Jens house.
That evening Jen and I went to the Italian Military attaché party in the diplomatic quarter of Riyadh. Everyone was dressed to the nines, and the food was an extravaganza.

The Arabian Shield

Outside Jens classroom


Roger in Jens Farwa beside her Mitsubishi suv

Camel tracks

Alien rock in the Arabian Shield where we camped

Roger in his house thobe

Ali at the Ritz

Rogers' birthday cake at the Ritz

Pool at the Ritz

Tree lollipops along freeway

Decorative door
How to wear the mens headcover
Ali and Jennifer outside Jens home
Jen and Roger
Camels walking through the desert

Plane arriving to Riyadh

Comments

  1. UnknownNovember 24, 2019 at 8:13 AM

    So wonderfully exciting! You’ve entered a new world!

    ReplyDelete

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