Sunday morning

So I think the most stressful part of yesterday was just the fear of the unknown of traveling by myself into KSA. But like before, I got through passport control with little problems, and because I am in the system didn't have to be fingerprinted again or photographed. So a simple swipe of my passport and stamp on the visa and I was through. The hotel said they "never knew" I had arraigned a car, so had to take a taxi. This I knew was going to be a problem.
Then moment you walk out the door there are five guys asking you if you need a taxi. And they don't leave you alone- the entire walk over to the taxi corral. Then I get to the first taxi, they are all loading my luggage into the car, and expecting a tip for "helping me" get a taxi. It is a mess. Then I get into the car, and there is no meter. So the taxi driver asks how much money. I was told 50Riyal would get me to the hotel. The guy says 200, I say no, but he starts to pull away! So he asks me again how much, I said 100 is all I pulled out of the ATM, and he will not budge- 200. This is about 65 dollars, so I'm thinking- it's still under my per deim for taxi- so I'm fine, but don't feel good about being screwed out of money! So after two more tries of heckling- he says "I'll take you as many kilometers as 100 riyals will get you." Which I knew would be about the middle of the desert, so I gave in and said ok- 200 riyals. Then he says "pay now" and so I did, and then the bastard says "what- no tip?"!!!!!!!!!!!! I was livid. Both at him and at the hotel, but tried to make the best of it "oh the adventure" and make small talk with him to make sure I get to the hotel. He thinks I'm from Germany- I am assuming it is because I do not have a British accent. I go with it due to various things going on in the gulf at the moment.

I did get to the hotel with no other problems. Check in was fast, I am on the "club" floor which means it has a nice lounge for guests with free food and juices and sodas- mind you I'm in a dry country. The room is very nice and newer than the other ME hotels I've been. The bed is super comfortable, and the bathroom is also well appointed.

I met the Regional director last night. We went to Kingdom Center for dinner. It was great to meet him, it made me feel much more confident of the situation. I even got to peak into the store construction site- but that made me less confident. That store is not going to open on time. That's an email I'm not looking forward to sending Monday.

Overall, I went to bed last night feeling better, but my mind still spinning about all the things the regional director told me, and thinking about how the weeks ahead will play out. Oh the adventure :-)