Tim took this last picture of the ruins in Old Diriyah before going back to the Diplomatic Quarter in Riyadh. He reminded me that we used to stand here and look at them from a distance, when they were still undergoing restoration and before they were open to the public. I wish I could have accompanied him on this trip, but it just wasn’t possible. I enjoyed our three years in Saudi Arabia and would love to see it again. Hopefully some time!
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The Turaif district of Old Diriyah was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2010 and underwent an extended period of restoration that is still ongoing. Diriyah was the original home of the Saudi royal family and served as the capital of the first Saudi dynasty from 1744 to 1818.
Lit up, posted earlier: