Holiday Inn Riyadh-Minhal

... were quite frugal on how much they served. Understandably so I suppose, but not when you want to sample every thing on the wine list because it's going to be the last time for nearly a year! <br><br>One more interesting thing, the flight erupted into applause upon landing into Riyadh. I've experienced this on other predominantly Muslim flights such as ones into Maldives and Egypt. Perhaps it's a celebration for having returned home from ...

... outskirts of the Saudi capital, Riyadh. Diriyah was the original home of the Saudi royal family, and served as the capital of the first Saudi dynasty from 1744 to 1818. <br><br>Also, we visited the famous Kingdom Centre (and Tower) and went up to the Sky Bridge. is a supertall skyscraper located in the city of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It is the tallest skyscraper in Saudi Arabia and the 45th tallest building in the world with a height of 311 m ...

... locked to the Orange mobile network. I asked around if I could get it unlocked there and I was given the usual, &#8216;Inshallah, come back tomorrow&#8217;. With my new means of communication, I sent messages to everyone with my new number. If there&#8217;s anything I&#8217;ve learnt about being abroad far from loved ones, it&#8217;s that they want to be able to contact you at a moment&#8217;s notice. I returned home at about 1am after buying some water. I slept soundly until ...

28th...bought an abaya in Dubai. The young woman at the shop showed me how to put on the sheelah (the head scarf)...an hour later i asked another nice young Saudi lady in the waiting area to show me again, because i took it off and couldn't get it back on properly...there is a knack to it. Met her family while waiting...really lovely people. Her mother said not to worry about putting on the ...

... each year is staggering.<br><br>With that delay we passed Makkah then Ta'if, and then it was sunset as yet again we entered the sandstorm areas. We stopped again at a Sapco for sunset prayers, Nusaiba and I causing a stir in the ladies restroom at the masjid -- I gather they don't see a lot of Americans there. When we went in a woman asked where we were from (from our coloring we are obviously not local) and was visibly shocked when I said America, I ...

... popping and we noticed lines of trucks with their hazards flashing as they struggled to keep their vehicles going at the slow rate down the sloping roads. The views are breathtaking. I particularly enjoy the odd assortment of rocky outcrops -- amazing how these jagged towers are shaped by nature.

... entered the bachelors' entrance -- I had forgotten about the separate entrances thing. In the Emirates restaurants will often have private seating for families (like booths with taller dividers around them) if you choose to use them, but everyone has the same entrance and you can sit in private or in an open public room, your choice. In Saudi you don't have a choice, which I had forgotten, but the counter staff kindly redirected me. So out I went, around ...

... spinal anaesthetic, must remain in recovery UNTIL IT HAS FULLY WORN OFF!!! I feel sorry for the caesar patients who just want to go back to the ward and be with their babies, but can't because "no, you cant move your legs properly yet". And we transport our patients back to the ward after they are recovered. We also quite often look after royals and VIP's - there is an entire ward especially for these patients. The rooms are amazing, like 3 separate rooms ...

... still isnt comprending :p So, I've been for another wander down to the other end of the compound, which is the original buildings (mine is the newer section :p) and got a timetable for the pool and gym. The pool on compound is fantastic! It is olympic sized, lovely and clean, with deck chairs surrounding it in the shade on the edge of the pool :) . While I was there, I went into the social club and got a list of the recreational activities that they are running this month. There ...

... room. Ladies were issued a piece of paper (certificaiton of sex, maybe?) and were directed to this room. Inside, the lady had Dawn and Marisa (and earlier Ann and Jesse) stand, then grabbed their breasts and gave them a good feel! LOL I guess they were checking to see if the girls in abayas really WERE girls. Too funny! Than it was off down the highway with a stop for a snack under an overpass (in the shade) and on again. What was interesting was that up on the hillside were ...