We got up at 4:30 a.m. to head out to the desert to see the sunrise, except it was too overcast so there was none. It did clear up later, though, and we had a great time hiking around and having breakfast in the shade of some sandstone cliffs. I did discover that sand is not the easiest thing to walk around on, especially in sandals, which was all I had with me.

Our SUV caravan stopped after we left the main road to let air out of the tires, apparently necessary for driving in the desert. I must say I developed a new-found respect for anybody driving in sand – it was treacherous (and incredibly rough, making pictures impossible) in places, and our driver really had to work to keep the vehicle from sliding down sand dunes – sort of like the way a car slides on ice. One driver, without tour passengers, had a souped-up SUV and was putting on quite a show for the rest of us. Glad I wasn’t in that car ;-). There were times, though, that even he couldn’t make it up the dunes and had to back down in embarrassment (or maybe just disappointment).

The first of five night shots posted earlier today of Al-‘Ula, this one of a citadel: