Sorry for the delay in updates. We’ve been on back-to-back, in-kingdom trips and have not had time (or internet) to post regular updates.
Saturday, we went on the “Museum Tour” which began with a visit to the Al Ashgar home in Ar Rabiyah, a development to promote Saudi home ownership that is located outside the original main camp.
The Ashgar’s home is absolutely beautiful. Munirah Al Ashgar has a real talent for decorating and has incorporated Islamic motifs as well as old Saudi and Middle Eastern treasures she has collected over many years. Saud Al Ashgar referred to it as overflow from her museum which occupies the top floor of a building off the pool patio. We didn’t have much time to spend looking at everything - it would take many hours.
The Al Ashgar’s beautiful home is only outdone by their hospitality. We were treated to Saudi gawa, mint tea and sweets in their majlis. Everything was home made and absolutely delicious. It was quite a treat!
After the Al Ashgar’s, we headed into Dammam to tour what turned out to be a different museum than originally planned. We believe it was the Regional Museum of Archaeology and Ethnography, although I don’t recall ever seeing the official name. The museum was home to archaeological and anthropological artifacts dating from Stone Aged tools through the Islamic period and into the 20th century. A number of important sites have been identified in the Eastern Province but have yet to be fully excavated. Some of these sites may even predate those found in Mesopotamia. The area around Qatif and Tarut appears to have been continuously occupied since 5000 BC. A lot is still to be learned from the limestone rubble and sand in the Eastern Province.
Saturday evening we shopped for items for the upcoming ABI reunion then grabbed a quick bite at the Latif Bakery - khubs pizza-style with labneh, olives, goat cheese, and zatar. The price of gold is sky high right now, so it’s a bit hard to get excited about buying any. Hate to pass up the opportunity, but it’s ridiculous!
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