Aramco Expats

Left to Right - Hasan Al-Hasan, Vaughn Fitzpatrick, Howard Norton, Fahad Bahdailah, Marjorie Tracy, John Duke Anthony, Lois Wolfrum, Greg Dowling and Tim Barger

The fourth day of the Saudi Aramco Retirees visit to the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia started after breakfast with a bus tour. The first part of the journey was a drive to and along the Saudi Arabia/Bahrain Causeway as far as the Customs Posts. The bus stopped to enable the party to take photos at the landscaped garden area at the halfway point of the bridge. Tour guide, Hasan Al-Hasan, explained that approximately 40,000 cars were expected to cross the bridge today, Thursday. This higher than usual number of vehicles is due to the fact that this is the last weekend before the Holy Month of Ramadan starts next week.

A drive to Al-Khobar then followed, taking the group along King Khalid Street and passing familiar stores such as Eve Jewelers, the Port Store and the Kanoo Travel Agency, before heading down along Pepsi Cola Road.

The bus turned on to the Corniche road to Dammam taking in the view of Tarut Island on the way, and then on to Al-Qatif where the party stopped for shopping at Qatif Market. This very popular market is always held on Thursday mornings and sells many types of birds, poultry, fruit and vegetables, spices, carpets and clothing. It is particularly famous for its baskets, made by the local women who sell them in their special area of the market. Nowadays the market has given in to popular culture and sells cell phones and all types of tools and electrical gadgets.

Members of the group bought small baskets. Tour guide, Huda Nuwwab, asked the local basket sellers if pictures could be taken of them and the women agreed as long as some purchases were made. The male stallholders selling other produce allowed the group to take their photos for free!

Fran and Richard Meade joined the retirees for Day 4 after extending their visit in their previous home of Riyadh.

Frances and Richard Meade Touring Saihat Society for Social Services

The bus then left Qatif for a visit to Saihat, where the group made a visit to the Saihat Society for Social Services.

Host, Abdullah Matrood, explained that the Society was started by the men of Saihat 42 years ago to support the local community. The Society is composed of a female section, male section and children’s section and one of its main objectives is support for the elderly and those with mental and physical disabilities.

Al-Matrood Farms

After the visit to the Saihat Society, the group attended a superb luncheon hosted by the Al-Matrood family at the Al-Matrood Farms.

Howard Norton and Bob Norberg Learn a Traditional Sword Dance

A Farewell Dinner was held in the evening at the Sunset Beach Resort at Half Moon Bay. Following dinner we were entertained by a troupe of Sword dancers and all of the retirees in the group were encouraged to participate.