We ate lunch at the Carlton Al-Muaibed Hotel. It was a huge spread. This picture only shows about half of the food. Some of the foods are familiar and some I have not seen before. I try to taste a lot of the different foods, but there are too many to taste them all! Do you recognize anything?

After lunch we went back to the Aramco compound to visit a retired couple who are collectors of Saudi antiques and artifacts. Mrs. Al-Ashgar had set up a museum in her home and she and her husband gave us a private tour. She and her husband are pictured below.

Here her husband is showing us a very special piece of cloth that he had framed. It is from the Kaaba in Mecca. During the Hajj the Kaaba, an object sacred in the Muslim faith, is covered with black cloth with an embroidered golden border. To Muslims this is a very holy item.

I thought you'd like this Saudi Arabian dagger.

Here is our host and our guide, Ali (in white), serving us cardamon coffee, dates, and cookies.

Here I am in their beautiful home with my coffee. I could have used a few cups by this time as I was quite tired from all of the travelling.

After the tour we stopped at the Heritage Gallery and learned more about Saudi Aramco history and then went back to our rooms for a brief break before dinner.