Saturday, July 6, 2013

Jeddah: Saloon Turkey


Barbershops in Jeddah are called "saloons" instead of salons.  I still get a chuckle out of this after more than five years living in Saudi Arabia because of the connotation of "saloon" where I come from - which seems especially ironic in a place where alcoholic beverages are strictly prohibited by law. 

5 comments:

Jerry Mc Kenna said...

Both saloon and salon have the same root, it is odd that saloon has evolved into meaning a drinking place (and I would guess it is also becoming archaic with that meaning).

Denise SA said...

It always makes me laugh too but because I envision a line of turkeys waiting to have their feathers clipped.
Another sign I saw said Aluminium Chickens I think it meant Aluminium Kitchens.

Maude Lynn said...

How neat!

Anonymous said...

Wikipedia says that saloon is an Indian term for barber's shop.. Jeddah is full of Indians so I wouldn't be surprised to see such thing!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saloon

Susie of Arabia said...

Thanks, Anonymous - I didn't think to Google it. Makes sense now.