Trip to the Grand Mosque Part One

Here is the Grand Mosque - a view from my hotel window!  I love waking up every morning to see this and at night it is beautifully lit in shades of white and blue.  Every day we can hear the call to prayer 5 times.  Around sunrise is the first call.  The second is around 12:30.  Then there is one around 5:30, one at about 7 and one before bed.   I can't hear it inside, but I usually hear it when I'm at the pool.  They also broadcast the call in malls and stores.  Don't think everyone drops and prays at that exact moment.  It just means they have to pray before the next call.  There are private rooms everywhere (malls, hotels, office buildings) for men and women to pray.  They always pray separately.

This is one of 5 spires that reachers up to heaven from the mosque.  See the gold - it is real gold!  Every day the 5 calls to prayer are sung from this tower - although now it is usually a recording.  The rest of the tower and most of the Mosque is made from marble imported from Greece and Italy.  It is always clean and white!

Here is the group of friends I toured with.  Notice we are all in traditional dress.  Women are required to wear the Abaya and cover their heads. Men can wear whatever they want to tour.  See me there in the middle?  I'm with Mike, Shannon, Daisha and Rebecca.  We had a great time and learned so much information.  I will be sharing more about the Mosque in my next post!