travelbug1970

Here in Abha.... and getting reading to set off for Najran tomorrow morning. Had a great day exploring old mud-brick villages and taking cable car rides down the edge of the escarpment. The city here is typically unattractive... but the sights in the area are great. All seem to be having a fun time... tough most have just sussed out that the tour is coming to an end soon. Just a few nights left. Staying here at the 5star Abha Palace has been great... and a nice upgrade. But, the location is a bit away from the center and the prices are high!!! Including this internet!! So... I am gonna try to send some pics.... and they will give you a better idea of what we have seen and what we have been doing. ok....have been ... read more

Well... we are now about 500km south of Jeddah. Had a great time in the city.... and surely could have used another day there (but without the group). It is the only city in the Kingdom that has somehow managed to retain some of the old architecture. Everywhere else in Arabia they knock the old down to build new. But Jeddah has kept a few gems. The heat and humidity were high there... being on the Red Sea. But not overwhelming at this time of year. Nothing killer like southeast Asia. Had a couple of great meals out ... and the women enjoyed the fact that Jeddah is more liberal than anywhere else in Saudi... and they could actually take their headscarves off at dinner!!!! WOW!!! Took a cruise in a large bay near the Red ... read more

OK... well, I have tagged this as 'Jeddah'.. though we are not there yet. So much has happened since my last post... and there is so much to tell. Sorry... but this may be kind of random. Right now we are in Al Ula... a stunning little oasis town in the northwest.. and gateway to Mada'in Salah. Mada'in Salah was the southern capital of the Nabateans (those who built Petra in Jordan)... and so is considered the Petra of Saudi. We spent 4 hours at the sight this morning... walking through the sand and admiring the magnificent tombs cut into the sandstone cliffs. Wow.. what a sight. Something truly amazing and probably the best archaeological sight in the country. Great place to hit in the middle of our tour. This area is also located on the ... read more

OK... I continue to try and add pics here.... but all attempts ahve failed. Quick update. Great train ride from Riyadh to Hofuf. Giant train station.... empty. Strange 'first class' lounge with free fresh arabic coffee and dates. Plasma tvs... internet access... and a Sony Playstation??. After 3.5 hours of driving across the worlds most uninspiring landscape we were there. Oh... Tom & Jerry Cartoons and Mr Bean played on the video in our train car to help pass the time.... and more dates were passed around. Balance of the day was spent trying to make the most out of our sightseeing schedule. Such a headache... as the places we wanted to see were either closed for renovation or inaccesible. Why did nobody tell me that before. Managed to visit some funky caves and a womens ... read more

Yes... we are in Saudi Arabia. Crap... I can't beleive it. This tour has been a long time in the works.... and I truly am finding it hard to believe that we are really here. WOW WOW WOW. I have had a tour to Saudi planned in my head for ages.... and finally got it rolling a year ago. All the planning and plotting... staring at the map... reading ... and now I am in Riyadh. Chilled in Dubai for the morning... including the always mandatory mall visit... and then headed out. Met with the group for an orientation meeting before leaving for the airport. Spent an hour prepping them for what to expect and what not to expect. So much is contrary to what one usually experieces or is prepared for when travelling. Can't do ... read more

Well.... no photos yet but just a quick note to say hello. Will try to update this from Saudi if possible... but who knows. All has been uneventful so far.... as we have just had the first day here in Dubai. Flights were uneventful... with a short delay leaving Vancouver as someone was determined to be too drunk to fly (at 3pm??), so they had to offload his luggage. Frankfurt... well... the armpit of airports really... but nice bratwurst. Nice flight down here... with me reading all night as Toddy watched movies and slept. I am a wee bit jealous. Scaffolding and construction cranes are the current main attraction here as the building blitz continues. Wonder when Dubia will be finished?? Ha Ha. Staying at a lovely hotel in the middle of who knows where... though ... read more

Here we are in the heart of Granada, Nicaragua..... and having a great time as always. What a great city this is, and when I say that we are in the heart I really mean it. Our hotel is on the main square.... facing the central park and Cathedral. We are staying for 4 nights at the lovely Hotel Plaza Colon.... and it has now taken me over an hour to upload these 14 pics... so I am done for the night and will keep this short. Everyone said that we would love this town, and I can see why. Granada really is the jewell in the crown of this country. Smokin' hot today... wow.. one of the hottest afternoons ever. Yesterday and today were part of the biggest festival / celebration that Granada has each ... read more