Flight / Arrival in Riyadh

The plane ride was full of the usual transatlantic tedium - cramped seats, crossword puzzles, and mediocre sleep. Some of us met an American expat with some helpful etiquette and fashion advice for the female group members, and one flight attendant remarked that she had never seen so large a group of American students on a flight to the country.

Our hosts greeted us at the jetway door, and we made our way to the arrival lounge while hearing the booming resonance of one of the Muslim daily prayers read aloud over the PA system. After some awkward moments in the immigration line when we were allowed to cut in front of hundreds of people standing in complete silence, we grabbed our bags, headed outside and caught our first rays of Arab sunshine, which were as powerful as their reputation even in 'winter'. The weather right now is dry and dusty, but surprisingly pleasant given that it's only in the 70s.

The cab ride from the airport afforded us our first glimpses of the Arab landscape and the city of Riyadh. I've heard some horror stories about the driving here, but so far I've seen nothing worse than some other places I've visited with similar reputations. Our driver certainly felt at home, as he saw no need to fasten his seatbelt for safety, or even to silence the incessant beeping of the "no seat belt" indicator, which remained on the entire ride.

On the main highway - King Abdullah Road, Luke pointed out a tall, modern-looking building with a giant sphere near the top. (http://www.toursaudiarabia.com/images/riyadh-1-large.jpg). We were pleasantly surprised to learn that the building is attached to our hotel.

I think I speak for everyone when I say that I was absolutely floored by our luxuriant accommodations (here at the Al Faisal Hotel (http://www.alfaisaliahhotel.com/). My room is as nice as any I have ever stayed in, and our hosts have been nothing but extraordinarily courteous and gracious. A few minutes ago, a porter showed up at my door with a smart-looking leather briefcase, which I thought at first was mistakenly delivered to the wrong room. It turned out to be a gift from our hosts filled with books and DVDs about Saudi Arabia.