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Seen by a Diplomat’s Spouse
men who are always ready to provide assistance.
I keep wondering how the authorities are keen on looking
after the citizens of their country without bothering about
formalities, always thinking about their comfort, rest,
leisure and forms of life. Huge sums are spent on such
objectives, not only because they have plenty of money
but because this is how things should be. Thus beside any
commercial store and park in the country, there are plazas
and compounds for the entertainment of children under
the supervision of the employees so that mothers can feel
quite at ease and turn their attention to their shopping. The
fathers have access to close-by mosques for performing
their prayer. In general, children occupy a prime position
in the policy of the Kingdom, which has prepared for
them special fun towns, that are properly equipped,
outside the city. Primary, secondary and higher education
is provided free, together with substantial and adequate
study allocations and medical care, which is provided free
for adults as well.
At the highest point of the Diplomatic District,
there rises the Palace designated for official receptions,
symposia, seminars and exhibitions. It is called “Touwaiq
Palace”. Its shape, lack of windows and winding circles
look in fact like a “tawq” (ring). It was so called after
the well known Touwaiq Mountain. Its exterior shape is
quite original; I have never seen the like of it. One could
perhaps say that it looks like an upside down goose, while
its middle part rises up to the level of a three or four storey
building. Its circular ends start from the floor of the internal
part with its winding steps and rise gradually. From here
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one can ascend easily to the roof and reach its highest
point, climbing over the back of the goose, thus closing
the circle and descending the steps and the slope from its
opposite end. Here a beautiful sight can be seen wherever
one may move. In the inner plazas of the palace there are
artificial undulations and rare and exotic plants, together
with deep ponds that are covered with glass roofs.
In the evening, one can see princes’ palaces outside
the city and the cerulean sky that is lit with a bundle of
lights over the city of Riyadh. One third of the Diplomatic
District is occupied by parks and palm tree thickets (they
total three hundred in Riyadh). This is a genuine collection
of verdure which looks like a green bunch. Obviously, all
this requires tremendous human efforts, great expenses,
the moving of sands from all over the Kingdom and even
from beyond the borders. I have already spoken about the
water provision problem. At present, the natural sources of
water and the desalination plants meet the demand, but the
government has entrusted to scientists the task of finding a
solution for meeting the increasing demand of water in the
future. Up till now, trees are still irrigated and pools are
filled; moreover, jets and waterfalls continue to operate
round the clock, and the government spends generously
on the illumination of parks.
In the south-western part of the Diplomatic District,
there is, at its lower part, a beautiful palm tree thicket,
which any citizen can visit. In it, private tents are erected
and shelves that contain braziers and other facilities for
picnickers who like to prepare food and partake thereof
in the open air in parks during holidays. One can also see
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Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Seen by a Diplomat’s Spouse
the sumptuous lotus trees, the date tree crowns that are
heavy in the spring with their load of bunches of several
kilograms of golden dates, the fragrant flowers and the
citron trees that are heavy with fruit, the small waterfalls,
the frogs and the flocks of wild ducks that alight to rest
and drink. All this attracts the nature lovers in any season,
even in the summer. Here, under the cool shade, along the
bank of a stream, we often celebrate feasts and Christmas,
together with the staff of our embassy. Each time, I never
miss to look at the clear reflection of the palm trees in the
still and calm water and listen to the singing of birds, pests
and invisible insects. I often wondered at the limitless
potentials of living nature when it is taken care of, as in
such case, it reciprocates with gratitude and thanks even
in the midst of the desert.
Saudis prefer to relax lying on the green thresholds over
which are spread beautiful carpets, that are surrounded
with baskets that contain their food and things. Or they
prefer to sit near the playgrounds of children which may
be said to be arranged like necklaces. These spaces are
arranged in refined taste. One can also enjoy seeing the
bowers of laced wood that is manually engraved, the huts
that are designed to look like tents and old houses, the
shallow pools, the swings, the hillocks and the sport tools
that are made ready for use by the little ones, who are alike
all over the world in that they sometimes break their toys.
All this is observed and watched by an army of employees,
who are not visibly perceptible.
The decorative beams are polished; the pools are clean
and the paths are strewn with soft sand; and the high-rising
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