We spent an evening with a group from the embassy at Najd Village, a traditional Saudi restaurant that visitors are often taken to for a cultural experience. The building in particular was quite interesting; the service excellent; and the food was good. There were sofas in our private room, but dinner was served on the floor, so we had to sit and eat on the floor, which I would have to say wasn’t the most comfortable thing in the world. It had a carpet, of course, but was mud brick under that, with nothing to lean back on.

We reluctantly left the exterior photo ops and went into the restaurant to find our private room. After a while I just had to look around for more pictures, so Tim and I exited the restaurant and then couldn’t get back in because of prayer time. (Diners can stay inside, but no food is served and the doors are locked, just like in supermarkets.) When we finally got inside again, our dinner spread was on the floor and ready to be eaten.

This was our private dining room, very comfy when sitting on the sofas, but no so much so when eating on the mud-brick floor, even though covered by a carpet. I should add that the other half of our group, in a different dining room, had no sofas but did have pillow backrests on the floor. I was envious when I heard that!

A well in the atrium, posted earlier: