Foto: The old Ottoman houses of Jeddah (bron: Ronald van der Veer)
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 List for several years now. Its narrow streets form a true labyrinth. There are shops everywhere, although many are closed around midday. We pass the Nasseef House, a large Ottoman house built by a wealthy family in the eighteenth century. We make our way from east to west through the winding alleys. In a small side street, we find a local restaurant with just one table left. We opt for fish—after all, Jeddah lies on the coast. From a container, we point out three pieces of salmon. A short while later, the cooked salmon is served with rice. Around us, most of the guests are locals, many of whom are migrant workers. Lingering at the table is not common in Saudi Arabia. While we are still eating, most of the other tables around us have already turned over twice. We still have some salmon left, which we offer to two elderly men at the next table. They gratefully accept it. Back outside, we feel just how hot and humid it is. The temperature is around thirty-five degrees Celsius, but due to the high humidity, it feels oppressively warm. On our way to the north gate, Bab Jadid, we try to stay in the shade as much as possible. Between the gate and the historic Shafei Mosque, there is ongoing restoration work. Construction workers are busy with repairs everywhere. Practically every building in these streets is being renovated. Everything is being tackled all at once here.
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 300meter high Kingdom Tower
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 ...
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 ...