Jeddah 1

When we were down south at Jizan, Jasmin remembered to have read that the ancient city of Hegra, a very important archaeological site, is located in the middle of Saudi would be “closing” on the 8th of March until October this year. So, if we wanted to see this place, we had to get moving. Quick smart! Particularly as this were 1400km the shortest route.
When our Arabic friends in Thee AlAin were unable to confirm this information we dropped our plans to visit more sites, but Jeddah we had to see!
We arrived in Jeddah during evening peak hour traffic. I was just waiting for a traffic light to turn green when suddenly a car honked on my right side. When looking over I see a troopy standing beside me, clearly some more overlanders!
I wanted to wind down my window, but it refused to work so I had to give it a good knock. Another thing to fix!! I feel like a dill, fumbling with my window, but once it moves down we start chatting, my right hand drive making this conversation really easy.
This were some Greek fellows, on their way to Africa, working on their Sudan entry visa. Nearly missing the traffic light turning to green we pulled over after the intersection and continued chatting. At the end we ended up staying overnight at an apartment of another Greek, they hadn’t known before their trip either. This gave us the opportunity of a wonderful shower and washing our overdue clothes. And their Greek neighbours invited us all for dinner.
The next morning we went our separate ways, Vassili and Dimitri (it was nice meeting you two!!) to nurse their really difficult visa process, and we had to see the balconies of Jeddah if nothing else.
Too many cats roaming the streets of Jeddah, so Rex had to stay in the car and I could enjoy strolling through the “Balad”, the old part of town, without a permanent pulling-on-the-leash. Quite enjoyable, I have to admit.Leer más