Road trip from Sana'a to Taizz via Ibb & Jibla

My 2nd day in Yemen started with a lovely cup of Yemini Qisher or Keshir or Geshir. This exotic Yemini coffee called "qisher" is considered among the best coffees. Uniquely made from the husk of the coffee beans, it's traditional flavor and aroma linger since ancient days.

I also opted for a simple breakfast. Freshly oven baked bread with Foul Madamas, yogurt with honey,  2 fried eggs and cheese! Awesome start to a lovely day!

Just after breakfast at about 7.30 am, we headed out of Sana'a to Taizz. Taizz is a city in the Yemini Highlands near the famous Mocha port on the Red Sea. 

On the way we came across the pumpkin sellers….piles and piles of pumpkins just lying in small mounds all along the road. What a pretty sight it made as we drove along.

Yemini locals love to be photographed!

The local cops in Yemen! Off duty they can wear their "Futas" but carry their kalashnikovs!

My guide wanted to pose with the Kalashnikov!

The Gate of Ibb

On our way to Taizz, we first stopped at the old town of Ibb. The city is known for its towering stone houses. The main mosque was built during the Ottomon period. Once again I was followed by a group of children who wanted me to take their photos!

             

Now these two guys wanted me to take their photos as well as to tell which one of the two was more handsome! I couldn't….can you?! Ha ha ha!!

The main mosque in Ibb

After Ibb, we proceeded onwards to Jibla, a town quite close to Ibb. It is here that Queen Arwa moved to from Sana'a in order to be in a better position to destroy her enemy and avenge her father-in-law's death. 

The city from the Queen Arwa mosque

Queen Arwa mosque in Jibla

Inside of the mosque

Queen Arwa lies buried in this tomb.

The pulpit from where the Imam preaches. This is in the direction of Mecca.

After a tour of the mosque we head to our destination Taizz. By evening we reach the city and we check in to our modest hotel for the night. 

A section of the market in Taizz in the evening.

Small dried fish seller in Taizz market.

The lobby of my basic hotel where I stayed for the night in Taizz.

Tomorrow we look around the city, Taizz!