Dhahran, Saudi Arabia

... thobe was disshevelled, and his gutra untamed, And I stood there astounded, as my travels he named: "From Dubai! From Muscat! From Dhahran and Abha! From Al Ain! From Nizwa! Bahrain and Al Hasa!" He walked over my way, and he then shook my hand ...

... ." That's about all that needed to be said to get four SUVs loaded with families into the desert half an hour south of Dhahran. The four vehicles took off into the dunes; we bounced around a little bit, turned through some soft sand, and then down a ...

Major city.

Great hotel, just can't remember what it was called! There was a huge chess set in the garden, each piece was about 4 foot high.