Arabian Gulf '06

Arabian Gulf - Yemen

Day 2 Sat 18 Feb 2006

The Sana'a flight was quite full, had two people to my right, so not a lot of space, and the guy behind me kept belting the touch screen in the back of my seat. Sana'a airport it a bit like an old Soviet style one - anyway changed $60 into 11,500 Yemen Riyal, and then handed over 10,500 to pay for the visa. Another stamp in the passport, another country! There was no hassle at the airport, in fact I had to hunt down a taxi to get me into town. Although the taxi driver didn't speak any english he did get me to my hotel (for 2000 Riyal). The driving style here is 'bad' I think that even Mr John from Beijing might be a bit out of his depth..

Sana'a Main Mosque

I haven't slept in 24hrs, but my room in the hotel is fab, I'm right at the top (the sixth floor) with great views on three sides of Old Sana'a - and the old town is amazing, with multi storey mud brick buildings everywhere! Threw my stuff around the room and then headed out to see what I could see. Did a quick circuit to get my bearings, and got some flat bread and cheese from a whole in the wall shop, then back to the hotel for a power nap!

Out again at 4pm to the souq - it reminds me very much of the streets of old Jerusalem, it has everything for sale from plastic buckets to the curved daggers that all the men seem to wear. A few spots of rain, but nothing to write home about. Everyone here seems very friendly.

There are loads of French tourists here, what is it with them and the middle east? There were loads in Jordan when I was there in 2000. Back to the hotel for another nap, and then out again after dark. I do feel very safe here, and I do like this part of the world.