Another amazing dinner out

Well, another evening here in Jeddah. Our weekends are Thursdays and Fridays. This evening Leslie and I went out with our friends Lou and Rob to a Turkish eatery, just a few  blocks from the compound on Hira street.

Hira is probably my favorite street here in Jeddah. It's in walking distance, has an amazing variety of shops and eateries. Everything from lamb hanging in a butcher shop window to electrical supply shops brimming with lighting and connectors and the like.  But I digress...

Back to the Turkish food... split a schwarma chicken platter and bread with goat. Yes, goat. It was all awesome. The bread was amazing and we topped it off with some Turkish coffee. Leslie's first shot of real Turkish coffee. You could stand a spoon up in that stuff. It was great.

Another good evening in the desert near the Red Sea. 

Overcame my fear of open water...

I actually went snorkeling with Leslie in the Red Sea today. Not just a little floating around in the protected cove, but out beyond the netting in the Red Sea. Right to the edge of, and occasionally over the shelf.

It was one of the most amazing things I have ever done.

To look down that wall of coral into the abyss is breathtaking to say the least.
The colors and types of fish are mind boggling. The colors of coral and the clarity of the water... what an amazing experience, and I can pretty much do it every weekend for free if I want to!

Here are some of my favorite snaps from today. Leslie was using her new underwater camera for the first time. She did a great job. We were with our friend Randy (from Minnesota as well) who is a teacher at the base where I work.

Very cool day indeed.

Thumbs up from the intrepid rookie...

Our friend Randy with the dive gloves on for coral contact. Good to go!

Leslie and I ready to explore

The variety and color of fish and coral seemed endless. And again, looking down the wall of coral off the shelf and into the oblivion below was amazing and humbling. The following shot was taken with the "Underwater Mode" on. We found out about that camera mode while on our way back... bahahahaha...

Still, all good

I have always had this fear of water. Mostly a fear of what lives in it. Of things big enough to eat me. Today was a milestone day to be sure.

This is looking down off the shelf!

Very cool colors and fish... Some fish are tough to spot. Masters of camouflage...

Find the fish? (He's lower center in pic.)

Lots of cool places to explore. We snorkeled for about an hour.

 

Places to go, things to see.

Pretty amazing trip and I fully plan to go back and do it again soon. Randy graciously invites us along, and we gratefully (and happily) accept. Just another day in the desert.