Jubbah, Saudi Arabia Dec 30, 2023 Once upon a time, some eight thousand years ago, the oasis of Jubbah was a lake, rich in wildlife. The peoples who inhabited this area left an array images on a massive rock formation. It is these petroglyphs that I wanted to see. As usual, the problem was how … More Tales Inscribed on Rockfaces
Madain Saleh, Saudi Arabia Dec 29, 2023 While Petra is well known the world over, lesser known is Al Hijra in Saudi Arabia. Called Hegra or Madain Saleh locally, this was a second city built by the Nabataeans between 1st century BCE and 2nd century CE. Its induction as a UNESCO heritage site is as … More Another Nabataean City
Al Ula, Saudi Arabia Dec 28, 2023 On the bus from Medina to Al Ula, I switched on my radar for other travelers in the hopes that I would find another with whom to share a rental car. Of the six people on board, one of them seemed a likely tourist and he was. Tony … More Strangeness of an Old Town
Wadi Jinn, Saudi Arabia Dec 26, 2023 “Do you know that water runs uphill here?” he said. But there was a twinkle in his eye as he followed it up with tales of cars that accelerate without any power. I was in Ahmad’s car, being taken to this mystical valley with its strange properties. I … More Valley of Magic
Medina, Saudi Arabia Dec 25. 2023 Mecca, the holiest of all places in Saudi Arabia is strictly off limits to non muslims. While Medina, the second holy city is accessible, the shrine itself can be approached only up to a boundary, supposedly a fence. This is unlike Iran or Iraq where one is permitted to … More A Glimpse from Afar
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia Dec 23, 2023 Futuristic stations, plush lounges and high-speed trains zipping through the desert make travel from Jeddah to Medina a breeze. Seated comfortably with plenty of legroom, I make it into Medina in under two hours.
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia Dec 22, 2023 I wandered out of the hotel and down toward the heart of the old city, called Al Balad. The name translates as “The Town” and once upon a time this was the only town that mattered in these parts. Today there is a push for tourism especially in this … More A Walk Through Al Balad
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia Dec 20, 2023 Boarding the Egypt Air plane at JFK, I had expected it to be crammed as it usually is this time of the year. But transiting at Cairo for the leg into Jeddah, I realized that almost all on the plane were also headed to Jeddah and they were all … More A Plane full of Pilgrims
New York Aug 26, 2023 Note: As mentioned in the post Cradle of Civilization III, I had to wait until I got home to write the story of Enheduanna. I took all the photos at the She Who Wrote exhibit at the Morgan Library & Museum. The translations of cuneiform are taken from Black, J.A., … More Princess, Priestess & First Known Author
Tyr, Lebanon Aug 8, 2023 In Mycenean, ponike is the name given to a species of sea snail from which a rich purple dye was made. From ponike came the Greek phoenix and thus Phoenicians, so called because they were the makers of this dye. Although debated, this seems the most widely accepted story. The … More The Dye Makers
ITCHY FEET TRAVELS 