Walking on sunshine - whoa-whoa!

Breakfast was scrumdiddlyumptious and relaxed in the Mezzanine-level cafe and I found an English-language paper to check out the local happenings - and the call-to-prayer times - very useful to plan those INTO my lecture-break times, and to AVOID them when trying to eat in restaurants or go into shops!

Top stories today were:

• Saudi is doing all it can to avoid swine-flu (or H1N1 as we SHOULD call it) and there was a useful comment from some English medical expert about how the pig was the source of much evil, infections-wise.
• Indian man went on the run after being diagnosed with HIV, but was promptly rounded up by the appropriate authorities on a road near Riyadh. Not sure what the authorities have in store for him, but remaining in Saudi seems a bit unlikely. Story went on to celebrate other successes in apprehending other criminal types. And NO Mark Sykes isn't making me write this.
• At no point did the King meet with any member of the Israeli cabinet last month. Such allegations were baseless, false... and some other synonym for untrue which I forget.
• How lots of people were voting in India...

The picture is SUPPOSED to highlight celebrities voting and showing their middle fingers being marked with dye to prevent one person voting more than once
Guy on the right: cool
Woman on the left: chic
Guy in the centre: manic

I then stepped out of the hotel and into the 38C heat and started squinting in the sunshine. It took 3 attempts to take a picture of myself with my eyes sufficiently open as they were closing involuntarily with the heat even under my VERY fetching anti-sun-stroke hat.

Front of the Almuthana hotel

A massive icon glowing in the sun for all to admire...

and the Al Fasialiyah tower ;)

note how BOTH have domes slightly protected by a lovely cap

Background shows NCCI towers - I'll be there tomorrow
Foreground shows some graffitti

thinks: how brave/foolish must one be to attempt this in Riyadh?!

KFC - Riyadh styleee

Applebee's - ate their last time too!

Pink Cadillac!
I need one.
So I can be Huggy Bear.

Hummers and Trucks. Yeh!

Forget the Pink Caddy (yes - fickle I know)
I'm in love with the most lovely motorhome/van
Eat your heart out, A-Team!

The back of THIS 'bus' is rather gorgeous

ATM with total design flair
Looks like StarWars escape pod

Cafe with outdoor facilities.
In the UK some places have those outdoor burners to keep people warm
Here (on the left) they have cool water-misting to do the very opposite

French cafe/restaurant - looks like a crazy cup

Another US Import vehicle that has seen better days

Wheels n stuff

Vroom

Mexico Corner. Wonder if their business is suffering due to H1N1?
I must try them in the week
Do you think they'll lend me a mexican hat?!!

Chicken Cone!! Sounds bonkers - I must try one

Stitching place in Riyadh!
Makes the whole walk worth-while!!
Will have to have a proper browse...

THE needlework place, no less

Another Chinese restaurant!

I ate here (twice?) last visit... one of Mr Sykes's favourites
Just south of here is a BIG bookshop - I'll pop in tomorrow

dum..dum..dum....another one bites the dust...

Lovely sandpit - shame I forgot my bucket and spade

I think I'm the second small window from the left
and second from the bottom

Back to the cool hotel room with a packet of ginger snaps!!!
Not sure if focus-loss is due to my excitement
or camera focussing on the biscuits...

If you wish to follow my walking route I'd be pleased as punch.

As pleased as a punch-drunk Mr Punch who's just emptied a bowl of punch, in fact.

What a long blog! And it's only lunchtime on the first full day!!