Old Town Shopping in Al Balad



 "Old Town" here is truly old, and after seeing the newer parts of Jeddah, I really wanted to make a trip to Al-Balad, the souk district. So last Thursday night we went.

Parking was nearly impossible; we found a spot just as we were ready to give up.

It was a very busy night. Thursday night is the last chance to shop before the holy day on Friday.

Al-Balad consists of a maze of streets and passageways. You will find every strata of the society represented here, and if you come to shop, be prepared to bargain.



Shoppers in Al-Balad



One of the oldest structures in Jeddah, this building in the old town is now a museum

Since we recently purged so many belongings, I don’t feel inclined to amass a lot more “stuff” again, so I didn’t actually buy anything. I was most tempted by the displays of dates and spices, so I will buy some of next time. It was very busy on a weekend night, and I’ll admit I was a little intimidated.



In the hookah shop. Just like the head shops back home, disco lights and everything.



Hanging out in Jeddah on "Saturday" night.

Al-Balad display of dates. I can't imagine how many varieties there are.
I have been doing my best to sample every kind.

I wore the scarf that came with the abaya that Bill bought for me just to avoid more stares than I would ordinarily attract. I know that plenty of westerners visit Al-Balad, but I did not see one other western woman there the night we went. Most local women wear at least the head cover, and many are fully veiled. You aren't required to wear the head cover here, and we did see some women without, but all of them had dark hair. It's natural for people to notice what's foreign and look at someone unusual to them, but I can tell you that it gets a little tiresome, and by covering my head, I was able to blend in more than if I hadn't. Other than the airport, this is the only place I have worn the headscarf.

There is an endless selection of goods.

Paving stones "staged" prior to install.

The gold has to be at least 22k by law, so very high quality.

I wish I had known to wear sturdier shoes. The ground was very uneven, with a lot of treacherous obstacles. You can see in the photos that it is rustic, and a lot of damage occurred from the winter's flooding. They are trying to re-pave some areas but for now it is still a bit of a construction zone. I think the photos will tell the story of the visit at least as well as words, so take a look... 

Women shoppers

There was a lot to see and it was hard to both watch your step and take it all in.
I will have to go back and do it again.