Sana’a is the capital of Yemen, one of several countries around the world torn apart by war at the moment. I can only hope the Saudis (supported by the United States) don’t bomb the old city, and I wonder if the people in my photos and the friends we made in Yemen are still alive?
It’s one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world—over 2,500 years—and certainly one of the most interesting architecturally. The following excerpts are from my book, Voice of a Voyage: Rediscovering the World During a Ten-year Circumnavigation. Take a look as you will probably never be able to see it yourself!
“Although rebuilt, renovated, and added to over the eons, it retained the feeling of a centuries-old settlement. The buildings were from five to nine stories tall, starting with stonework, then mounted with clay bricks and decorated with light-colored plaster trimming the windows and doors. It was as if the brown-red land was molded together in tall box-like formations and then extensively decorated with the most intricate, delicate, and graceful white icing accenting various features. This embellishment contained small traditional Arabic details of vines, flowers, and geometric designs. The old city was also fascinating for the glimpse of life lived there. The plazas and walking streets pulsated with activity, conversation, the business of living.”
Notice the solar water heaters on the roofs.
Entrance gate to the old city.
The old Iman’s Palace on the outskirts of the main city.
Our trip there was not without incident. I’ll tell you about that in my next blog.