Foto: The tallest skyscraper in Riyadh (bron: Ronald van der Veer)
Saudi_Arabia - From the platform at 200 meters, we have a view over the entire city. We can see our hotel, the fort, the mosque on the edge of town, and directly in front of us, the Kingdom Tower. This skyscraper, shaped like a bottle opener, is the tallest building in the city. From up here, we estimate the distance to be about 1.5 to 2 kilometers. We decide to walk there, so we can also take in the city's atmosphere. When we try to order a drink at an Italian restaurant, we’re shocked by the prices. A cola costs four times as much as it did this morning at Deera Square. We leave. A bit further along, we have better luck at Starbucks. The Sky Bridge in the Kingdom Tower can be reached through the shopping mall below the building—a large and luxurious shopping center. The entrance fee for the Sky Bridge is relatively high, but we decide to go up anyway. From the Sky Bridge, located at the top of the 302-meter-high skyscraper, we can see all of Riyadh. It’s five o’clock, but the sun is already low in the sky. Below us, traffic crawls slowly along the wide boulevards during the evening rush hour. The city’s infrastructure is clearly a major issue.
Al Masmak Fort in Riyadh
Saudi_Arabia - We continue on to the Al Masmak Fort. Parking here is easier. There’s a parking lot where we can leave the car for a fee. The citadel, made of clay and mud, was built in 1865. In 1902, King Abdul Aziz captured the fort and took control of Riyadh. At ...
Madain Saleh
Saudi_Arabia - This morning, we visit the magnificent tombs of the Nabataeans in Madain Saleh. Just before the start of the Common Era, the Nabataeans expanded trade routes from Petra in Jordan. In Hegra—the other name for Madain Saleh—they carved tombs with beautiful ...
The historic old town of Jeddah
Saudi_Arabia - In the historic old town of Jeddah, many old Ottoman houses still remain—characteristic white buildings with wooden balconies. Some are heavily dilapidated, while others are being restored. The old town of Jeddah has been on the UNESCO World Heritage ...
The rock carvings of Jibal Umm Sinman
Saudi_Arabia - Around 12:30, we arrive at the rock carvings of Jibal Umm Sinman. The parking lot is empty—could it be closed? We walk through the entrance into the visitor center. In one of the rooms, two men are sitting on a carpet. “Come in, come in.” As they ...
The traditional houses of Abha
Saudi_Arabia - Just outside the center of Abha lies the Al Nasb district. In this neighborhood, a few houses built using traditional mud-and-stone construction methods still remain. Most of the historical houses are abandoned, and therefore deteriorating quickly. We ...
Wadi Al Disah
Saudi_Arabia - We get into the car with Abu. He introduces himself with a longer name but is fine with us just calling him Abu. A cheerful older man. He doesn’t speak a word of English, but that doesn't dampen his enthusiasm one bit. He drives the car through a deep ...