At the airport our plane was delayed an hour so we had juice and coffee with the Indian businessman who was also going to Tiaz. Our flight over was a 16 seater two engine plane on Djibouti Air. We sat behind the pilot and could watch him and the view over his shoulder out the front window the whole way. The flight took about 1 hour over the Red Sea and then up and up the escarpment of the Yeman plateau to Tiaz. The airport is on a plain but Taiz itself is nestled against a high mountain.
We were impressed by the terraced hillsides and on top of every peak was a village. It was more spectacular than Ethiopia in that respect because rather than being made of mud and stick and thatch tukuls, these villages consisted of massive stone block houses.
Our Indian friend took us into town with him since his agent met him. Hotels were full due to some UN tour but they arranged a room we could share with him – actually two small rooms with a common bath and door. We ate a good lunch in the hotel and then went out to try to find Sandy Nair, a friend of Deborah Hicks. He had given her a poorly drawn map which she had passed on to us so we hired a taxi to take us there. When we arrived in the area and inquired he wasn't home so we left a note and returned to the hotel for a nap.
Around 4:00 we went out for a stroll but were generally lost walking up and down hills. I had on a skirt and tennis shoes but felt very conspicuous since all women were completely covered in black, including black sheer scarves over their faces. The only exceptions were some hill women in colorful, embroidered dresses with their legs covered, their heads wrapped but their faces exposed. So we went back and I put on Levis and a long top.
Around 4:00 we went out for a stroll but were generally lost walking up and down hills. I had on a skirt and tennis shoes but felt very conspicuous since all women were completely covered in black, including black sheer scarves over their faces. The only exceptions were some hill women in colorful, embroidered dresses with their legs covered, their heads wrapped but their faces exposed. So we went back and I put on Levis and a long top.
I liked their scarves and later bought one in the market (souk) in the old part of the city. It was black with maroon border and small maroon dots and when I washed it in the sink the water turned blood red.
Sandy found us that night but since Wednesday is bridge night in Taiz, he couldn't stay. We arranged to meet in the morning. Dinner at the hotel and bed quite exhausted from the hill walking.
1 comment:
I really need to start a travel journal like this...this is so fun to read!
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