The Best Snorkeling I’ve Experienced
I wasn’t a fan of snorkeling until we came to Jeddah. Something about the way the strap always yanked my hair out and my goggles inevitably fogged up all while I’m staring at rocks and sand 75% of the time. 😑 :: My expectations were low on our first snorkeling venture in the Red Sea but […]
Always on the Hunt for Bagels
Jeddah has over 3.4 million people and thousands of restaurants, but one thing was sorely missing for too long…bagels. :: They couldn’t be found at restaurants, groceries, or bakeries. I attempted to make them myself once and they actually turned out pretty well, due to the Trader Joe’s Everything Bagel Seasoning I brought from America, […]
Cutting the Cord on our Stuff
I can’t believe we packed our lives into seven big suitcases and two carryons. :: The months before we moved here were full of selling furniture online, taking boxes to goodwill, and pawning things off on friends. 📦 My parents let us store a handful of boxes of keepsakes, wedding gifts, books, and winter clothes, but everything […]
Don’t Pet the Monkeys
Oh the things we didn’t expect about Saudi… 🐒 :: There’s a city in the mountains called Taif that a lot of Jeddawis (people from Jeddah) visit on the weekends to experience cooler temperatures and a change of scenery. ⛅️⛰ It’s about two hours away and, at one point on the drive, the road climbs up a steep […]
Be Our Guest
We LOVE having visitors. It’s humbling to be a part of showing people this place and watching it exceed their expectations. My parents were the first to visit us in Dec 2018, two months after Ezra was born. (Yea it took a baby for them to make the transatlantic trip.) The pic above was taken […]
Sweet, Sweet Grass
Saudi introduced a two week period of reduced restrictions yesterday! We’re able to go outside between 9-5pm now so this morning we walked to the park located two blocks away from our apartment. :: In the last year Saudi has invested in the city’s parks and rolled out sod, installed watering systems, planted flowers, and […]
Craving Ramadan Food
Ramadan looks a lot different this year due to the curfew and social gathering restrictions. We probably won’t be joining any friends in their iftar meals so I’ll just be reminiscing about last year’s food… :: During the month of Ramadan, Muslims fast from sunup to sundown (no food or water) and they break their […]
Prayer that Shakes the Windows
Five times a day the “call to prayer” echoes throughout the city. Mosques are scattered throughout all neighborhoods and the muezzin from each mosque sings/chants the call which is blared from the speakers atop the minaret (tower). 🕌 The call lasts a few minutes and summons people to come to the mosques or prepare to […]
Doctor or Rock Star?
We’ve been thankful to find good doctors here. The ones we have dealt with have all had some experience or training in the US, UK, or Canada and we feel confident in their ability to care for us well. However, some may say they’re a little…eccentric. ☺️ :: This is the boys’ pediatrician. Yes, he does have […]
Saudi Supermarket Lowdown
The grocery store is the only place I have been in the last month outside the confines of my home. 😐 Luckily we have two large ones in our neighborhood. :: Danube is the largest and I would compare it to a Kroger or Publix – mostly food, some household items, occasionally a tiny clothes section. Other […]
