2023-12-22 to 12-27 in Riyadh
After 24 hours of traveling and an 11-hour time change, we were greeted at the Riyadh airport by Mohammed. It actually sounds more painful than it was. Mohammed lived with us and attended Roosevelt High School for the 2007-2008 school year. While we've had video calls a few times over the years, this is the first time that we've seen him since our good-byes in June 2008. Abdulaziz lived with us for the 2008-2009 school year and also attended Roosevelt High School. He also lives in Riyadh. He and Mohammed met for the first time to create an event-filled plan for our visit. It's been wonderful spending time with both of them. The first evening, Abdulaziz and Mohammed took us to Roshn Front, an open air mall. We walked around along with many, many Saudi families. Dinner at a Lebanese restaurant topped off the night. The food was incredible. On Saturday, 12-23, we visited Masmak Fortress, also known as The Castle. The fort was constructed in 1865 in what became the central com