Farewell Riyadh!

Today was our last day in Riyadh, so we had to make the most of it.  We went out to the Prince Sultan Humanitarian City.  One our way out of Riyadh, we saw camels!!!  Now I feel like I have really been to the kingdom.  Prince Sultan Humanitarian City is a rehabilitation facility that focuses on people in accidents or with disabilities.  I was very impressed by the child development center and the prosthesis design workshop.  They served us a delicious lunch before we went to a private university, Al-Yamama, for a visit.  This campus was remarkably beautiful.  The design was very chic and we were quite impressed.  To help students practice the business principles that they learn in class, students are able to open businesses on campus.  We thought this was pretty neat.  The cost of tuition was of particular interest to many of us.  It is only approximately $6000 for tuition at a private college, something that Ministry of Higher Education scholarships normally cover for the average student.  There is clearly a thrust on education in this country.

 

After that we went back in time.  We went to Old Darrayah, a part of Old Riyadh.  They are currently in the process of renovating and preserving these ruins.  A special section that will not be open to the public until 2013 was opened up for us.  One of the project leaders showed us around the facility and answered all of our questions.  We learned a lot and felt like VIPs in the process.

After that it was back to the hotel where we said our goodbyes to the two women that made Riyadh a special place for us.  Our two female guides are remarkably intelligent and beautiful women that are professors at a women's university in Riyadh.  They lovingly guided us through our first few days in the kingdom, answering our stupid questions, showing us amazing hospitality, and opening their hearts to us.  My heart broke at leaving them.  Hopefully we will be seeing them soon, inshallah.  We packed our bags, heard the last call to prayer for us in the city, and went to the airport, through the government VIP security of course.  Our poor "male guardian" was the only one left to accompany us until we arrived in Damman.  Bless his heart-we are a handful.  Now we have arrived in Damman, had dinner,and settled in. We are looking forward to the adventures that await us here.

Our poor little white bus that took us from one story to another (with plenty in between) in Riyadh