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Makkah Province

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    • TravelerBadawi Trail
      Day 13

      Tag 8 - Medina nach Jeddah

      October 17, 2023 in Saudi Arabia ⋅ 🌙 31 °C

      Nachdem unsere Garage gestern eher rustikal war, liessen wir Jacqueline heute morgen in einer moderneren Garage von Kopf bis Fuss überprüfen, sie hatte einige Schrauben locker, sie wurde geputzt, gefettet, gestreichelt. Bevor die Arbeit aber aufgenommen wurde, durften wir beim Frühstück mitlangen, feinste yemenitische spicy baked beans. Unsere Garagisten waren zwei Yemeni, ein Syrer, ein Jordanier und zwei Chinesen. Saudis machen keine solchen Arbeiten.

      Da wir um 1600 am Formel 1 Circuit erwartet wurden, fuhren wir direkt ohne irgendwelche Prüfungen abzulegen.

      Eine unglaublich Erfahrung: neben und auf der dreispurigen Autobahn kreischte plötzlich eine Affenhorde, Paviane, mitten in der Wüste!!! Der eine Stand auf der Ueberholspur, ein anderer hockte auf der Mittelleitplanke. Leider sind die Fotos nicht sehr gut, aber immerhin. Auf dem weiteren Weg machten wir noch einen kleinen Abstecher ans rote Meer, wo wir ein (menschenleeres) Seebad fanden. Wir hofften auf einen Kaffee im Beach Café, aber alles war zu.

      Also dann zum Höhepunkt: alle Fahrzeuge reihten sich auf in der Boxengasse des Formel 1 Circuit. Dann durften wir zwei Runden auf dem Formel 1 Rundkurs fahren, zum grossen Gaudi all der verhinderten Rennfahrer in unseren Reihen, eingeschlossen Hansueli, der eine grossartige Performance mit Jacqueline auf den Tarmac legte.

      Jetzt sind wir in einem Megapalast, dem Ritz Carlton, mit Blick auf das rote Meer.      Read more

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    • Michael SpiesGypsies on the move
      Day 239

      700km to Al Wabah crater

      March 7, 2023 in Saudi Arabia ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C

      700km through a desert sand storm, that is not an experience to be repeated! Our "Sprinti" was jumping across the road like a feather while sand took over the highway.
      When we arrived at the Al Wahbah crater in the dark the sand storm had developed into a massive electric storm with huge lightning flashes creeping through the sky. Fascinating, until the lightning hit a transformer station 10m away from us on the parking lot at the edge of the crater where we spent the night. There was a loud ZZZZZT and the transformer went up in flames.
      Oh my oh my!
      We woke up the next morning looking straight into this 300m deep crater and thought we would do a short walk around it. Well it turned out to be three hours in searing heat. Not quite the morning stroll expected!      Read more

    • Traveler2023
      Day 71

      Jeddah and Yanbu, Saudi Arabia

      March 1, 2023 in Saudi Arabia ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C

      Our final two ports of call where in Saudi Arabia and were made mostly for Muslim people onboard to visit Makkah and Medina. As non-muslims are forbidden to visit these areas, we explored the cities by ourselves.

      At our stop in Jeddah, we spent our time wandering around the old town. The buildings here are around 500 years old and made from cement and timber. The markets and cafes were mostly closed due to prayer time. They open usually around 5pm so we spent the time walking around the narrow alleys and admiring the old style houses and buildings.

      Our final stop was Yanbu, which is a port on the Red Sea for snorkelling and scuba diving. Around the port there are lots of ancient ruins which we spent time exploring. We then enjoyed a drink at the port side cafes before boarding the ship for the final time.      Read more

    • Familie KluteIndien 2023
      Day 1

      Pause in Jeddah und Flug nach Indien

      October 26, 2023 in Saudi Arabia ⋅ 🌙 30 °C

      Ich hatte vier Stunden Aufenthalt in Jeddah. Alles hat gut geklappt. Der Anflug war interessant, wir sind um ca. 22:30 Uhr über Jeddah geflogen und der Verkehr unten war wie zur Rush Hour in New York. Ich hab die Zeit in Jeddah in der Saudia-Lounge verbracht und da war es bitterkalt. Ich hatte die ganze Zeit Pullover und Jacke an, obwohl es draußen zu der Zeit noch fast 30°C waren. Der Weiterflug nach Indien war dann unspektakulär. Der Flieger war schon in die Jahre gekommen, was mich überrascht hat. Ich wollte aber sowieso schlafen und das hat einigermaßen gut geklappt. Jetzt sind es noch 20 Minuten bis zur Landung.Read more

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    • Michael SpiesGypsies on the move
      Day 240

      Ash Shafa-a true Saudi picnic

      March 8, 2023 in Saudi Arabia ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

      Today we are in Ash Shafa, 2200 meters high, and the place where the Saudi King has his residence when the government moves to Al Ta'if in the summer months.
      For hours we watched troops of baboons playing around, squabbling, de-fleeing each other, and collectively taking the local rubbish container apart. When Margot went for a walk she was promptly invited for lunch and ordered to bring her husband along, and so we experienced a real Saudi picnic.
      A huge pot of rice, chicken, spices and lots of chili had been cooking all morning and was now poured out onto a single very large plate, everyone gathered around in a circle and with their right hand, scraped the food into a ball and stuffed it into their mouth.
      It looks a mess, but that is how it is done here.
      In between, with great excitement we were questioned about our journey while the mother proudly showed Margot her jewelery and the multi-coloured cuff of her shirt under her black hood. BUT NOTHING MORE, the face stayed covered!      Read more

    • Michael SpiesGypsies on the move
      Day 241

      Jeddah: multi-culti on the red sea

      March 9, 2023 in Saudi Arabia ⋅ 🌬 31 °C

      Jeddah is Saudi Arabias trading port and a melting pot of ethnicities, endlessly long along the red sea.
      We arrived on Thursday evening, the beginning of the moslem weekend knowing that this would be tough.
      On an empty lot next to the sea, families picknicked all night with ice cream vans cruising between them joined by the classical Saudi "cruisers" in their loud cars after 1am and going through to 7am when the first families starting arriving again.
      Forget sleeping!
      We fled into the old town in the morning, famous for the shutters in front of the windows so that women can look out into the streets without being seen!
      We discovered deserted streets.
      It was Friday!
      And then, around midday, a switch was flipped, and the streets filled with markets and stands with the freshest fruits and vegetables imaginable.      Read more

    • Michael SpiesGypsies on the move
      Day 242

      Jeddah: midday prayer and the day starts

      March 10, 2023 in Saudi Arabia ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C

      While strolling through the old city centre, we had the pleasure to participate in the friday midday prayer because it was broadcast via loudspeakers in the area. Hardly had the last thanks to Allah been spoken, when hundreds of men streamed out of the nearby mosque, all heading in the same direction. We followed and were led into the most beautiful and authentic streets where fresh rooti bread was being baked in Tandoori ovens and a multitude of very basic restaurants were serving curry chicken and rice to Pakistanis, Arabs and whatever else happened to come by (like us). Then all plodded off to a large courtyard nearby where chai was served on chairs that no longer deserved this name.
      What a beautiful afternoon!      Read more

    • Michael SpiesGypsies on the move
      Day 243

      Sleepless nights while "cruisers" cruise

      March 11, 2023 in Saudi Arabia ⋅ ☁️ 26 °C

      Having not slept the previous night, in the afternoon, we drove north to the edge of the city on an inlet from the sea in the hope of finding a quite place.
      Exactly the opposite happened!
      As sunset approached we arrived at a long pier on a dead end road. As it was Friday, many families had gathered for an evening Picknick. While on land the atmosphere was wonderfully calm, on the water it was like on a highway with boats of every size parading up and down the inlet relishing the looks they were getting. In between, jet skis were racing around with screaming engines doing antics to attract the attention of the spectators. As dark set in the boats dissapeared and the families left and we thought we would be alone. But the opposite happened, the car cruisers arrived, driving in, stopping for 5 minutes, revving their engines and leaving again.
      Then, after 2am, the real chaos set in as the really rich came out of their holes cruising around with their Ferraris, Masaratis et al making enough noise to get Muhammed to turn in his grave. The next morning at 06am the families arrived again.
      We were exhausted!      Read more

    • Michael SpiesGypsies on the move
      Day 244

      And so we fled back into nature

      March 12, 2023 in Saudi Arabia ⋅ 🌙 25 °C

      Cities are always stress, here in Saudi all the more, due to the "cruisers" showing off their big engines, exhaust pipes or sound systems around 02:00 in the morning. We were longing for silence and sleep and headed up the coast to Rabigh beach, a huge sand bar which on Google satilite showed a clear line between turquoise sand and dark blue sea. This indicates a steep coral reef. And so it was, 50 meters off shore was the most beautiful coral reef I have ever seen. We snorkeled twice in the warm water, simply marveling at the millions of fish of all sizes and colours. It was a celebration of the beauty of creation and the universe. We just couldn't stop shouting look!, look! like excited children, as large Puffer fish eyed us, a large sting ray sailed by, followed by a turtle and huge schools a shiny sardines. On the coral reef Angel fish, parrot fish and a thousand other species went about their busseling business.
      What a gift to be here!      Read more

    • TravelerCULTURA GENERALE
      Day 6

      La Mecca

      November 11, 2023 in Saudi Arabia ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C

      È la città in cui, per la tradizione musulmana, è nato Maometto, ricordato come profeta e rifondatore dell'Islam. Contiene la più grande moschea del mondo, il Masjid al-Haram. Ai non musulmani è vietato entrare in città

      ESPANSIONE ISLAMICA (in foto)
      IN SPAGNA
      Nel 711, con una numerosa flotta i musulmani misero piede in Spagna e Con circa 10 000 uomini sconfissero le truppe visigote dirigendosi speditamente su Siviglia, Cordova e, nel 713, Toledo. Nel 714 venne occupata l'Aragona ed entro il 720 la Catalogna e la Settimania.

      Perché l Andalusia si chiama così?
      Il nome stesso della regione deriva da al-Andalus, che altro non è che il modo in cui gli arabi-berberi chiamavano la parte di penisola iberica sotto il loro controllo

      Chi ha sconfitto gli arabi in Spagna?
      Nel 1492, dopo 500 anni di guerra, ha termine la Reconquista, cioè la lotta della Spagna contro gli Arabi per liberare la penisola iberica dalla loro presenza. Infatti, il re Ferdinando di Aragona e la regina Isabella di Castiglia sconfiggono definitivamente l'emiro di Granada, ultima presenza araba in Spagna.

      IN ITALIA
      Nel Mediterraneo, gli Arabi (detti talora Saraceni) conquistarono la Sicilia nell'827, toccarono la Sardegna e la Corsica, oltre a un tratto della costa provenzale e parte della Calabria, della Puglia e della Campania.      Read more

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    You might also know this place by the following names:

    Makkah Province, La Mecque, Mekka

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