It's 5 o'clock somewhere...

Yes folks, it is 5 o'clock in Riyadh...5am. Jet lag has gotten the best of us-- bright eyed and bushy tailed in the dark. Perhaps it was the call to prayer that woke us up, but in any case it is a beautiful day in Riyadh!

To recap in words what what was so aptly conveyed in the video post from last night, we are having a great time! After we all had a chance to freshen up upon arrival at the hotel, the group met for a tour of "The Globe", the giant sphere on the top of the hotel that boasts an incredible viewing deck where you can see the entire city. (Think Empire State Building) Once we took in the vista we were invited inside the giant sphere to tour the restaurant and cigar bar. Saad, one of our hosts from the Ministry of Higher Education, joined us in the cigar bar while we sampled "Saudi Cocktails", a delicious mixture of blueberry, pineapple, and orange juices. Some of the men partook in "cubanos", which provided an interesting moment for cultural exchange as we attempted to convey why we could not get Cuban cigars in the US. After relaxing with the incredible view we proceeded back downstairs for dinner where we enjoyed a sampling of both American and Mediterranean classics. We had everything from steak and potatoes to hummus, kibe, kofka. There was also tastings of the Cabernet Sauvignon grape juice!

As we finished dinner at 11pm there were some tired Hoyas, so we headed to bed well fed and in great anticipation of the day ahead. The women ended the evening with a little tutorial on the proper way to wear a hijab, so we will be ready to emerge from the hotel.

Now the sun has risen over Riyadh, the Today Show (from yesterday) is on TV, and we are about to embark on a new adventure. Seems that a little Arabic coffee might be the cure for jet lag!