Saturday, March 13, 2010

picnic under a bridge

Okay, I have been wondering about this ever since I came to Riyadh. I think I'm going to have to ask you readers to enlighten me because I can never get a respectful answer out of an expat about this.

Why do I so often see Saudi families parked by the highway having a picnic? The bridge thing I see a bit more when it gets to summer, but right now...it's not that hot in the daytime. And just today, we were driving home from the mall, and I saw it with my own two eyes - a family with a van parked right off the road, happily sitting in lawn chairs in a neat row on rocks and dirt beside their car, having a picnic! I don't really buy the whole idea that families are by the road just for the breeze they get from the cars whizzing by cuz as I said, it's a good temperature this time of year. I know there's a sorry lack of green space in the city. Perhaps because I live on a compound which is relatively lush, with grass everywhere, I don't quite "get it" - but I still don't think I completely understand what drives families to partake in this roadside ritual...

5 comments:

Souma said...

i'm a saudi and i've never understood that... but i think that since many people of the generation that makes up those picnic lovin' folk were born and raised in this urban jungle, especially in riyadh where it's asphalt and desert. they know nothing else.
i cant even imagine living away from the sea...

Orchidthief said...

it's kind of comforting to know that it's not just me, the expat ignoramus, who finds it puzzling, though that makes total sense that it could be a different generation that enjoys it. I also can't imagine living away from water. I can't believe I'm here some days!!!

Anyhow thanks for the comment!

Kellie said...

I was told by a Saudi man they that picnic roadside so they don't have to trave lto far into the desert and it allows them to get the light off the cars travelling by..

Orchidthief said...

Really??? ...I just can't think of a response to that!

NWParamedic said...

At the end of the day, the man in the Riyadh street will drive out with the family, park wherever he can find a clear space, have a picnic and watch TV. The Bedouin don't like sleeping inside. And often they're overcrowded at home. Their will be mats for sleeping, a cook stove and the men in Thobes watching TV.