Travels with Jennifer: October 2024

Where were you?

My husband, Jeff, and I travelled to Saudi Arabia and Dubai. In Saudi we visited Riyadh, AlUla, Jeddah and the Red Sea.

What was the highlight of the trip?

There were so many highlights it's hard to pick just one thing. Saudi Arabia is so special, the people are warm and welcoming and just so happy to host tourists since tourism is so new. I had the opportunity to visit various local galleries and artists which Is probably the best part of the trip for me.

Did you find any new inspirations?

I find inspiration anytime I travel. Different cultures bring a new perspective and inspiration. Ancient civilizations paid attention to details in all they built. Art is everywhere in Jeddah, from the hand woven textiles to the hand carved window panels in Al Balad.

Did you learn anything new?

I learned so much about Saudi history. I found the tombs of Alula to be especially interesting. The Nabataeaan people built Hegra around the first century BC. They are the same people that built Petra. Hegra is a UNESCO world heritage site.

Best food/drink you had?

Since Saudi is an alcohol free country they specialize in non alcoholic cocktails. All are made with fresh juices and all were delicious. The food was amazing - so much fresh fish!