portland visitors

We’ve had a busy past week, spent with our dear friends from Portland, Comfort and Susan. The gals arrived, via Cairo, early Tuesday morning. Wednesday we visited Wadi Dhahr, which is home to an incredible 18th-century palace built atop a massive rock.

Wadi Dhahr and the Dar al-Hajar rock palace

Thursday morning we headed east with a group from our school to the island of Kamaran, off the west coast of Yemen. We were treated to swimming in the hot bath tub of the Red Sea, freshly caught jumbo shrimp for dinner, many bottles of Red Wine (first time in Yemen for that!), a midnight fireworks show followed by splashing in the water with glowing ocean phosphorescence, a wonderful night of sleep outside under the stars and next to the waves, a morning acrobatic show by the island’s resident dolphins (including an itty bitty baby), and a mangrove forest tour. Fun fact for those of you who have read Motoring with Mohammed (a brilliant book, I’d recommend it to all), the author’s story takes place just off the island of Kamaran. Our adventure was fantastic, but far too short. And Nate broke his big toe, which was both sad and painful. We’re definitely planning to head back in the spring when the Brakken parents come visit us.

small boat in large sea: heading to Kamaran from the mainland

sleeping accommodations on the island: straw huts or beach (both equally rad)

fireworks show (to celebrate our friend Jess's birthday)

water camels?

swimming in the mangrove forest

The remainder of Susan and Comfort’s stay in Yemen was spent in Sana’a and involved lots of shopping (especially for jambayas, baltus, scarves, and Saddam Hussein lighters). They also had the fortune to be invited to several of our neighbors’ homes. Our Yemeni friends were wildly excited to meet Nate’s “mom and sister” (it was easier to say that than explain the concept of a surrogate family in Arabic, and hosting strangers overnight probably wouldn’t go over too well here). Susan had her makeup done, and the ladies even dressed her up in the infamous “fertility jewelry”. I think they both had a truly wonderful time in Yemen, and Susan is thinking about coming back to Sana’a in the spring with her kids, inshaaAllah.

charlie's (yemeni) angels

susan tries qat, in special makeup and dress...

We’re quite sad and lonely now that our family/friends have returned to Portland, but fortunately for us we have a big event tonight to cheer us up: a private party at the US Embassy! A full report to be posted soon.