A day spent in the office and an evening walk. My impressions on my first day in Saudi:
my project manager is covered in a black burka head to toes. I recognise her only when she is sitting in her office
generally, local women can be divided into “black robes” vs “colourful robes”. The latter don’t cover face. I guess this dress code must mean something but I haven’t asked yet
similarly, men fall into two groups “white robes” vs “sandstone-colour robes” and few in black. The first group most often wears head scarfs
this is an IT thing, so no surprise here: office open spaces are filled with people with every possible skin colour. The language on the floor is English. My command of two Arabic phrases- “Salam Alaykum” and “shukran” is more than expected here
Riyadh is like Las Vegas - broad long streets and posh buildings alongside. The city centre looks like freshly built
the city is not designed for pedestrians. Nice pavements along the main streets but just venture out of the avenues and walking becomes difficult- construction sites or parked cars block passage
red light is a suggestion for pedestrians, they feel free to walk between cars. Drivers are disciplined in that matter. However, when a car turns right and pedestrians cross (both with green light), the notion of giving way to the pedestrians is rather alien here
bus stops are air-conditioned booths !!!
my work colleagues warned me against “evening chill”. Well, I find +23° C rather pleasant. Still, I was the only one wearing t-shirt on the streets
food in the office canteen was half the price of what I would have to pay in Poland. On the other hand, prices in the restaurants along the main streets are very high to me. I will check some backstreet places tomorrow
Riyadh gives me the impression of being safe and friendly, and stumbling on uneven pavements outside of Main Street doesn’t change the first impression
the city is enormous, looking in any direction from my office (which is near the central Kingdom Tower), I see only Riyadh sprawling around
