Thyme for Rosemary
My first and most probably lasting impression of Riyadh is, strangely enough, the smell of Rosemary. The road to the university is lined, on both sides, with robust Rosemary bushes. They are watered every morning, and incredibly, flourish in the desert. How I wish they were interplanted with lavender! I brush past them in the afternoons, on my way home. The hot desert sun has mellowed the smell, releasing the oil from the woody leaves. I am instantly hungry. I pick a few stalks. I have lamb in the fridge. Dinner, done!