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You can lose everything, but nobody will take away what you saw and what you experienced...
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Jan 04, 2023 12:00 AM Boarding the ship
Jeddah is open for the cruise ships since only two or three years local people are seeing the big white ships from the distance but they do not know how to get there. Taxi driver left me at the port gate, but this was no entry for the passengers. I was forced to walk in the sun about 1,5 km to the passenger terminal - low-rise building where you check-in (they require covid vaccination, pass through the immigrations (ladies on charge are completely black- covered except the eyes! And then the bus wil drive you through the port yo the distant ship.
Do you know who is on my cruise? Russians - hardly, but accepted for their money. Arabs - we have many ladies in black. Europeans form the minority. Once on the Saudi waters all the bars on the ship do not serve any alcohol! After rock show at 9 pm we sailed to the north...
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Jan 03, 2023 12:00 AM Al Balad in the morning, Al Hammra in the afternoon.
In my modest hotel they don't have restaurant but you can have your breakfast in the clean eatery just around the corner. In the line I found the man in white galabija speaking English. I asked for help to place my order. As a result I was immediately invitef to eat the breakfast with him. And he paid! What a hospitable people!. I spent the morning crawling the narrow streets of Al Balad - the oldest part of Jeddah. Many traditional houses with beautifuly carved wooden windows and balconies survived. But other are ruined and will be replaced by the new architecture soon. Information is poor, but you definitely should see the suk - live bazaar and the mosques heading to Meecca Gate... A lot of homeless cats is wondering around...
In the afternoon taxi driver took me to Al Hammra district, where from elegant corniche you can enjoy the view of the 200m+ King Fahd Fountain. He left me on the street, charged 25 SAR... But where is the fountain?. -The fountain doesn't work during the day. You have yo wait till 6 pm. I did! But the water marvel did not appeared. The man in charge told me, that it was damaged by recent rain flooding. Hmmm... Bad luck!
Tomorrow I will be boarding the ship...
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Jan 02, 2023 12:00 AM Back to Jeddah!
I was going by bus from Jeddah to Riyadh so I decided to fly on the return leg because the price of the ticket is almost the same. In the rainy morning driver from uber took me to Rijadh airport for 90 SAR (that's quite a lot, but no other solution) Domestic flights operate from terminal 5. They offer reliable wifi connection in the terminal, but they ask for your mobile number. Having taken online boarding pass I went directly to the electronic entry gate and soon I was on the upper floor for security control. No problems! Flynas low- cost airline has 7 kg allowance of cabin luggage and I was a little bit afraid because my backpack has 14 kg... Nobody cares about the size and weight of your carry-on!!. In Jeddah I experienced 28 deg Celsius! I was waiting in the airport 2 hours for the local host, who promised to pick me up. His phone/whatsup was no responsing. Shame on you! Not reliable person! I decided to share the taxi to the city and stay in the cheap hotel.
What a coincidence! The sharing person was a nice Polish gentleman Mr Marcin from Zambrów, who works here since 11 years. But... On the way our driver hit another car and we were forced to change the taxi. Mr Marcin was so nice to give me the lift to Al Nahda Hotel where I pay 115 SAR for single room with a/c and bath. Thank you Mr Marcin!
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Jan 01, 2023 12:00 AM Dirayah - the cradle of dynasty
Today Jan 1st is a regular working day in Saudia so my host went to his work and I took a uber taxi to Dirayah - historic place located some 25 kms from Riyadh. No public transport, taxis only - I paid for the ride 50 SAR each way. The fortress on Dirayah is the birthplace of Saudi - Wahhabi dynasty. In the morning the entrance is free. If you go in the afternoon you should buy online the ticket for 100 SAR. But it gives you automatically credit in the restaurants and shops.
Well-restored Dirayah was placed in 2010 on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Turn left after the gate. Just after the bridge the will gove you the map and there is info center where you can try saudi coffee and dates. The master of calligraphy will write your name in Arabic - that's free and valuable souvenir. Then you will climb the labyrinth of narrow streets, walls and tiny alleys. Exhibitions are hidden between them. The place is well worth to visit. I met many friendly people. What an interesting, sunny day!
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Dec 31, 2022 12:00 AM Meeting New Year in Riyadh
Last day of 2022 was ver busy to me. Already in the morning my host Miteb took me to the old quarter of the 3- million city. We had a traditional Arabian breakfast (hobz and fool) an I had a chance to visit nicely restored Mismak Fortress housing excellent exhibition about the history of the capital and about saudi coffee production. Then we went to the nearby clock tower, market an the mosque. On the outskirts of the city there is a little dam and recreational area along the water reservoir with many people strolling under the palms. I met there a young local musician playing guitar. We had an interesting talk. And in the afternoon Miteb took me to the diplomatic quarter to see the embassies and beautiful plazas with the rows of palms... Uff... In the evening we had a dinner with Miteb's friends in the traditional Saudi restaurant. In the evening we moved to the city center - to the certified by Guinness "biggest cafe in the world" to enjoy from the the terrace the live concert of Arabian pop Stars. And to meet the New Year. Sorry, fireworks from the imposing Kingdom Tower were poor. In my country at 24.00 people are wishing each other, kissing, singing, laughing... Nothing like that here... Different world!
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Dec 30, 2022 12:00 AM Welcome to Saudi Arabia!
Already in the plane heading from Athens to Jeddah I saw many muslim pilgrims in white clothes... Some of them with their wifes in black. When we landed they were little bit lost: the aiport terminal is huge and the information signs are poor. Finally I reached the immigration hall. No worries - they check my visa, took my picture and my fingerprints. No passport searching, just stamp and go... It was 4 am when I was free to go. Mr Piotr - Polish significant traveller met on the plane rented a car and offered me a lift to Jeddah SAPTCO bus station. (Thanks a lot Mr Piotr!) Outside the terminal we recognised that in Jeddah there was heavy rain. Bus station was small and dirty. At 5.45 they packed passengers to the big, but not luxury bus and we started our 14-hours trip through the desert to the capital city of Riyadh. Only 4 stops on the route. It was dark in Riyadh when we arrived. With the help of local people I contacted my CS host. He explained taxi driver where to go. I have to rest!
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Dec 29, 2022 12:00 AM Gdansk to Warsaw to Athens...
You know that I am the budget traveller, looking for the last expensive air ticket solution. For the flight to Saudi Arabia I found last expensive flight of Aegean Airlines. But they operate from Warsaw! In the late morning I boarded in Gdansk an express train to Warsaw (they open the sale exactly one month ahead and on that day you can catch the best offers) It is less than 3 hours ride now. Then from Warsaw Central station I took 175 bus to the airport. Nice Christmas decoration is still here. I am waiting for my flight to Athens, where I will have just one hour for the connection to Jeddah. I hope that the flights will be on time!
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Dec 28, 2022 12:00 AM I am flying to Saudi Arabia!
I'm off to welcome the New Year in Saudi Arabia! In 2007, when tourists were not allowed in this country, I managed to enter Arabia only for 3 days to see Jeddah and the country's biggest tourist attraction - Madain Saleh. It is now easy to get a visa to the kingdom and I am going there to see more.
As you can see on the map my trip will be combined with a week-long cruise on the Red Sea, and I intend to cover the overland route by bus and a rental car. I'm going to stay with members of international open door organizations... If there will be free access to the internet you will find "hot" messages from the road, as always in English, in my travel log
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Dec 25, 2022 12:00 AM White Christmas Day in Norway
That's what they are singing about in the songs: white snow around, thick, silver hoarfrost on the branches of all trees and the landscape like from the fairy-tale. After breakfast my son Adam took me and my grandsons to the central Oslo to visit Christmas Market. There are many lights and tempting smells. Kids are enjoying bright merry-go-round and joyful music, free skate-ring is also wayting for them.. Like the kids we boarded Oslo-Eye to have for the moment bird-eye view of the university and all seasonal attractions on the square... Wonderful Christmas Day!
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Dec 24, 2022 12:00 AM Christmas Eve in Oslo
My direct flight to Norway departed from Gdansk at 10.30 am. But this was low-cost airline, flying not to Oslo Gardemoen capital airport but to Torp (they use terminology Oslo Torp, but in fact this airport is located 2 hours drive from capital's center. I was forced to take a train departing from Torp station. Shuttle bus will take you from the terminal to the station. What a beautiful winter scenery! They have really white Christmas here! I changed the train at beautifuly decorated (picture) Oslo S (Central) station and after 3 pm I met my son in the suburbs. We had really nice evening at the Christmas tree, enjoying traditional dishes, singing Polish Christmas carols and receiving gifts. Really white, lovely Christmas Eve!
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