Yemen 2006

Y-06 - Yemen trip Date of travel: Nov 1 - Nov 24, 2006 ITINERARY: On Nov 1 in mid morning I left Vista in a rented car for Los Angeles airport. From there I fly in the afternoon with Lufthansa Airlines to Frankfurt, Germany where in the morning on Nov 2. Here I am changing the plane for one leaving after 1 PM via Cairo to the capital of Yemen, Sana, where at 9:30 PM. In Sana I joined the other travelers. On Nov 3 sightseeing Sana and a village Beit Bows in its vicinity. Here I meet Ihab Zaki originally from Egypt, who organizes our Yemeni trip with his Spiekemann Travel Service. In the afternoon walk through the old Sana with its typical historical high rise buildings. The following day is a daytrip in 4WD’s to Haraz region, where the best coffee is grown. Day after that we leave Sana for Jibla, Ibb and Taiz. From Taiz a daytrip to explore Aden the country economic center. Nov 7 from Taiz to a fishing village of Khawkha with a boat ride on the Red Sea. After a night here we drive in our Toyota Land Cruisers via Zabid, where algebra is said to have been invented, to Hodeidah again on the Red Sea. Next day we drive inland to a mountainous town Mahwit to spend the whole day in it. Then a day of visits to fortified Tawill, Kawkaban, Shiban, Thula to spend a night in Hajjah. On Nov 12 more stops at Kohlan, Amran, Wadi Dhar and the return to the capital Sana. On Nov 13 we head from Sana, which is some 2300 m (7360’) above sea level, east through the scenic mountains down to Baraqish, the ancient capital of the old kingdom of Main. Driving continues to the legendary capital of Sabaen with its queen of Sheba at Marib. We tour ruins of Bar’an and other temples and the famous dam, on which the prosperity of Sheba kingdom depended some thousand years. In spite of our military escort the local fully armed men on pickup trucks make us nervous. Next day is an early departure for drive through Empty Quarter, which is one of the most beautiful Arabian deserts. Overnight in Seyun. We spend a day in Seyun and its vicinity visiting Shibam called the “Manhattan of the desert” for its ancient skyscrapers soaring from the desert. From here we drive south through the fertile Hadramawt region of Yemen to the city of Mukalla on the Arabian Sea. Next 3 days we spend on Socotra Island called the “Galapagos” of Indian Ocean for its unique flora and fauna often endemic to this island. On Nov 20 we fly from Socotra Island via Mukalla back to Sana. The following day the group leaves for home, while I spend another 3 days in Sana alone. On Nov 24 I fly from Sana to Addis Ababa in Ethiopia to start another trip there. Travel office : Spiekermann Travel Service - its owner, Ihab Zaki, spent several days with our group. Who took part: There were 11 travelers plus Professor Denis Schmandt-Besserat as a leader, local tour guide and Ihab part of the time.