Minţaqat al Mustawda’āt

When we were down south at Jizan, Jasmin remembered to have read that the ancient city of Hegra, a very important archeologial 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. Quicksmart! 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 peak hour evening 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 say 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 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, giving 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.
Well, these balconies, built to give the women of the house a view of the buzzling street below, whilst very likely not being permitted to immerse themselves, however shielding them from the view of male passerbys. Even though the thought incenses my feminist leanings, I have to admit, most of these balconies are of extreme beauty and outstanding craftmanship. I wondered about the illumination of the rooms behind those balconies, the game of light and shadow, ever changing throughout the day… but unfortunately, I was not given the opportunity to explore this any further.
Before returning back to the cars, we had to have some coffee in a beautiful coffee shop in the Balad. Being invited to the table of some very nice Arab people, I had an Arabic coffee in the most beautiful cup and pincher, served on a copper tray. And I fell in love… With the set... I have hardly bought anything on my trip so far, not even a carpet!!! So I think I deserve to get myself a set of those!!!! I am sure I can find a spot to store in in Lola. This will give me a good excuse to return to Jeddah, and pay this city the attention it deserves.Read more