Yemen 2002: Sana’a - One of the oldest city…

"Strength is when you have so much to cry for but you prefer to smile instead..."

(The market place at Sana'a Old City)

Sana'a, Yemen
(3 - 5 October 2002)

We were stranded in Sana’a for 3 days because of flight delay in Jeddah. There were 3 couples and our stay in Sana’a was made eventful and exciting with the help of the Hotel Manager who not only paid for our stay and meals in the hotel but also drove us around in his 4x4 jeep to visit interesting historical places. Syukran brother….

(The dining hall is on the top floor of our transit hotel)

(The hotel garden and waiting area)

(Ready to explore Sana'a city) 

This morning we visited The National Museum of Yemen in Sana'a. It was founded in 1971 in Dar al-Shukr (Palace of Gratefulness) which is one of the Yemeni Imam Palaces. It is located near Qubbat al-Mutawakkil Mosque dome in Al-Tahreer Square in the city center.

The museum contains artifacts of ancient Yemen collected from different archaeological sites. The National Museum consists of the four-story building and its room has been reserved for the presentation of rare artifacts and monuments. The exhibits include the artifacts of a Yemeni Imam, artifacts from Marib, ancient Kingdoms of Yemen, and artifacts from the Islamic States era.

(Visiting the National Museum of Yemen)

(Artifacts of the old era)

Next visit was to the Old City of Sana'a situated in a mountain valley at an altitude of 2,200 m. The Old City of Sana'a is defined by an extraordinary density of rammed earth and burnt brick towers rising several stories above stone-built ground floors, strikingly decorated with geometric patterns of fired bricks and white gypsum.

(The walled Old City of Sana'a)

The Old City of Sanaʽa is a recognised UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Amanat Al Asimah Governorate, Yemen. The old fortified city has been inhabited for more than 2,500 years and contains many intact architectural sites. The oldest, partially standing architectural structure in the Old City of Sanaʽa is Ghumdan Palace. The city was declared a World Heritage Site by the United Nations in 1986. Efforts are underway to preserve some of the oldest buildings some of which, such as the Samsarh and the Great Mosque of Sanaʽa, is more than 1,400 years old. Surrounded by ancient clay walls that stand 9 - 14 m high, the Old City contains more than 100 mosques, 12 hammams, and 6,500 houses. Many of the houses resemble ancient skyscrapers, reaching several stories high and topped with flat roofs. They are decorated with elaborate friezes and intricately carved frames and stained-glass windows.

(A walking tour in the old Medina)

In Sana'a you would be standing on an elevation of about 7000 ft above sea level. Surrounded by mountains of basalt, and situated in a relatively flat plain, Sana'a remained one of the major cities in Yemen throughout history. Tourists arriving in Sana'a aren't interested in seeing the development, and the change that has taken place in Sana'a much as they're interested in focusing their attention on the historic and ancient city of Sana'a.

(Standing on the highest view point of the old city)

(A bird's eye view of the Old City of Sana'a)

The Yemeni architecture is apparent not only in the old houses of historic Sana'a, but also in the new houses, and buildings which are still built today. Modern architecture in Yemen is still influenced by traditional architecture. The Yemeni architecture reflected the genius of the Yemeni people, and the variation in building styles from one region to another within Yemen attest to that fact.

Next we visited the Dar al-Hajar or "Rock Palace" of Imam Yahya of Yemen. It is a former royal palace located in Wadi Dhar about 15 km from Sanaa. Built in 1920 as the summer retreat of Yahya Muhammad Hamid ed-Din, Imam of Yemen from 1904 to 1948, it sits on top of a structure built in 1786 for the scholar al-Imam Mansour. The royal family resided in the palace until the North Yemen civil war. The palace is now a museum.

(Dar al-Hajar - the residence of Imam Yahya in Wadi Dhar)

(The Palace of the notorious Imam Yahaya)

(The beautiful garden of Dar al-Hajar)

(Inside Dar al-Hajar)

In the afternoon, the Manager of our transit hotel invited us to a Yemeni Wedding where we witnessed a unique local traditional wedding. Wedding traditions celebrations in Yemen commence with a series of intricate rituals that symbolize the cultural richness and depth of the occasion.

(Attending a Yemeni wedding)

(Guests were seated in a tent)

(A dance with weapons at the wedding)

On the last day in Sana'a, we witnessed at close range a peaceful major demonstration. There were a lot of media coverage from all over the world.

 

(A peaceful demonstration in Sana'a)

THE DESERT JOURNEY

I gaze across the desert sands
Which wend their way
to the edge of the sky
This land of nothingness
so vast and empty
Reflects the chambers
of my heart so dry…

👈 2002: Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam

2002: Madinah/Makkah, Saudi Arabia 👉