Saudi Arabia

[koster]

Which city is more interesting, Riyadh or Jeddah?

[spudqueen]

Probably not many people would know the answer to this as you cannot travel as a tourist to Saudi.

[Dee Sa]

you can if its a religious holiday i.e Haj to Mecca, then you can get a special visit visa.
Riyadh--- the biggest beach in the world [ ex-pat joke]

[KARL]

On the assumption that the question was posed as a serious one, allow me to say that it has been said that Jeddah is considerably more cosmopolitan than Riyadh - all things being relative, mind you. I have been to both and have to say I found the two have separate advantages and disadvantages. Compared to Jeddah which can become quite oppressive the atmosphere is drier in Riyadh during the summer months, but Jeddah has the sea and the recreationasl possibilities that go with it. Jeddah has more evidence of wariness toward illegal residents (primarily those who have "absconded" during or at the end of a hajj or umrah) but non-African or Asian skins tend not to be asked for papers in either place. Beyond the initial curiosity value, neither city can be described as appealing from a European tourist's point of view, but I found both fairly straight forward to live in by observing the restrictions which to many people would feel quite onerous if not oppressive. It is really odd to discover how much you come to long just to have the choice of what at home is not only permitted but perfectly normal activity, although you rarely if ever indulge in it when allowed it.

[koster]

Thanks Karl.

Of course my question was serious - I wouldn't have asked it otherwise. I just wondered, if I were to go to Saudi Arabia for an English teaching job, which city would be preferable.