Jeddah: Majestic Minarets

I have a thing for minarets.  Some are very functional and ordinary but others have a majestic or almost magical quality about them. 

Going Overboard with VIP

The term "VIP" is over-used here in Jeddah in naming or promoting businesses. 

"VIP" is included on many business signs

The funny thing is that many businesses here do not treat customers very well at all and certainly don't make us feel like VIPs!

Jeddah: Curved Blue Glass Building

Many of the buildings are made of blue glass, for some reason.  This shot is taken from the side

Jeddah Signs: GBS

In the Arabic language, there are no sounds of "P" or "V" so many Saudis have trouble pronouncing these sounds in English.  For example, "Pepsi" is commonly heard as "Bebsi"  and "love" is pronounced as "luff."  So many times I see signs or menus written in English that are spelled phonetically according to how Arabs pronounce the words.  This business sells GPS devices and the sign says "GBS."

Samadi Sweets

Saudis definitely have a sweet tooth.  In Jeddah, there are chocolate shops galore, along with many other confectioneries, ice cream shops, and bakeries.  Baklava is a very popular treat in the Middle East.  In the back of this photo you can see a tree made of bite size pieces of baklava.  In the front is a colorful fondant cake.  These were on display at one of my husband's favorite places for sweets in Jeddah called Samadi. 

SkyWatch: Sandstorm Season

Allergies, face masks, trouble breathing - these are all things that come to mind during sandstorm season here in Jeddah.

Sometimes it's so bad that school is cancelled.  Hospital emergency rooms generally see an upswing in patients with breathing difficulties.

And maids are kept busier than normal trying to keep up with the dusting required to keep homes clean.  




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Shoes Outside Mosque

It is not unusual here in Jeddah to see products during prayer time just left out in the open unattended.