At 5 on Thursday rang the alarm, we wanted to leave at 5:30 going on. Since the reservation had not been printed, we made a short stop at the company. At 6 clock we were on the highway to Bahrain.
Predicted us was that we need about 4 hours would, with a fast driver and one pit stop we made the route to the border in just 3 hours. At 9 clock we were on the first border post and got a confirmation that we were entitled to depart by car. At the second house, permission was stamped in the visa. This was followed by a Durchwinkstation. We had left Saudi Arabia. On the Bahraini side, it went on with the customs station where we were allowed to pass through it. Next, we got an entry permit stamp in our passport at the insurance there was a slight delay as we initially classifying us the wrong switch.
(It turned out that we had to pay more insurance, so we had to back, past the waiting cars, reset, and then finish for 15 riyals a 2-day insurance.)
The last stage to Bahrain was the King Fahd Causeway, a 26 km long bridge between Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. By the way, runs the only land border of Bahrain on the banked 'Island. In addition, the bridge is the only land link.
Without a fixed sightseeing program, we drove towards Manama (the capital of Bahrain) Center and held at the first mall, we could find: the Harbour Mall, is located in the stock market. The mall is not spectacular, so we went shortly afterwards on the way to the Gulf Hotel. Passing the Bahrain World Trade Center, which looks to the three rotors between the towers very interesting.
rocketman80120 / CC License Since we were before the official check there, we were only offered smoking rooms, which we refused. By promising to reserve the rooms for us and that would be later the keys ready, we went, armed with a map of the city has to offer. The next stop should be the National Museum. The architecture of the museum, with 3 two-storey honeycomb, departing from a large hall, interesting in itself.
The floor of the large hall is printed with a large satellite image of Bahrain. On the walls are statements related to various interesting places by colored stripes are led to large display cases that show replicas of the places. If you press the buttons on the display cases for the best place lights in the showcase, and the stripes on the floor.
In the individual cells, the life of the Bahraini, shown by a village mosque and a bazaar alley. Furthermore, the history of Bahrain, various documents and the grave mounds of the Bahrainis before tens of thousands of years, as well as archaeological pieces will be shown to 6000 years of history of Bahrain.
On the way out we saw another exhibition. The guardian of the exhibition was a German woman who greeted us shortly. The artist is the son of the Prime Minister of Bahrain. Currently he paints modern, like what you have to. The special feature is the convex canvases. At the exit we were present for the chance Shaikh Rashid bin Khalifa Al Khalifa presented. His Royal Highness shook hands with us and we chatted briefly about his future plans. Among other things, he plans to continue working with convex screens, in addition to free-standing or hanging in the middle of the room.
She said we should not now a long time to wash hands. In another interview, she gave us some tips on what we might look at (Bab al Bahrain, the Souq, the grand mosque next to the Gulf Hotel and the Bahrain Formula 1 race track). She has lived for 30 years in Manama and a little desperate because we could start with the street names that she called us nothing.
In their recommendations, we talked then. From the museum we went to Manama Souq, we entered through the Bab al Bahrain to German gateway to Bahrain. By now it was about 2 clock, and most shops were closed. Driven by hunger, we went deeper and deeper into this traditional Arabic bazaar. We found a "Tourist Restaurant". From the outside, rather repugnant, but forewarned by our museum acquaintance who said that many of the best restaurants outside Pooh hui were inside, we entered the store. Inside was cooled to about 19 ° C, so we only got you a little shock. We ordered a spicy chicken curry, and there was a plate of rice. In addition, bread was served with yogurt sauce. At the next table was eating with his hands, but we were, elhamdulillah, where cutlery. For dessert we were served rice porridge. The whole thing costs 500 fils, around 1 €.
Back it went to the parking area where we had parked. The guard wanted to know how long we intended to park before us laughing ZUWI a place. Unfortunately he was not referred to by our departure, so that it was his baksheesh through their fingers.
Done by the early rising and the heat it took us to the hotel now. Our rooms were in the 5th Floor, with a beautiful view of Manama, the Al-Fatih Mosque. Unfortunately, the discs were more than dirty. The rooms were lifted, there was a control unit for all lamps on the bed.
In addition, of course, in a drawer, an arrow in the direction of Mecca. At 5 we were on our way, this time on foot to the mosque, which lies within reach of the hotel. Frontal them to come around, we decided to go left, Murphy accompanied us. Had we gone to the right would have been an entrance a few meters, so we walked around the entire complex.
The mosque is Saturday through Thursday from 9-16 Clock open when we arrived at half past six at the entrance was unfortunately denied admission, instead we received two information booklets on Islam pressed in the hand and were put off until Saturday. We decided to walk back to the hotel and the sightseeing for the day his leave. Due to a misunderstanding, the toothbrushes were not packed, so we did the shopping area in the hotel and bought toothbrushes and postcards. The pool is nice in a Chinese garden is embedded, otherwise unspectacular. Significantly, the many weekend tourists who were at the pool and drank beer.
In the hotel there are all sorts of restaurants ranging from Lebanese, of Chinese and Mexican. Clock for half past seven we had arranged to meet for dinner, we had not reserved a table, but there was no problem to get one. Whether we wanted to hear the live band at 9:30, we were asked, but would Person 20 BHD (40 €) will be due, including the food. But since we wanted to visit the Sherlock Holmes or bar, it was eating. This was delicious. On the menu we were invited to the value of 16 BHD per person to order food. With rates of 2-6 BHD of appetizers and main course is not easy. So we were all under the required 16 BHD (~ 32 €), but not noticed in retrospect as a problem. In addition there was a delicious bottle of white wine.
The bar was also a Tip of the museum lady Atmospheric price as on German level. Again, there was a live band during the break, the World Cup opening ceremony shown. The bar was decorated with the flags of World Cup fit of the participating States. Tired, we ended the evening after just one drink.
As in the compound there were only a large blanket, which leads to fighting for the same. We had started the air conditioning, but the temperature control was probably broken, because the 24 ° set felt more like 18 degrees. Also turning off led to nothing, because after a few minutes, they jumped back on. So at least the sleep of Andi was disturbed by the noise of the climate and temperature.
The morning buffet was abundant and delicious. Of bread and cold cuts, pieces of sweet yoghurt to breakfast cereals to various fruit and it went to Pancakes and a hearty hot breakfast, like scrambled eggs and (beef) bacon. With 9 BHD (€ 18) but, although appropriate for hotel rates of 70-80 BHD (140-160 €), breakfast in the price would still must be included.
After checking out we headed to Muharraq, the small neighboring island of Bahrain. Here we investigated the souq, from which we had been though to avoid, but in the absence of other sites we needed to do. They want to not so directly as alcohol tourism Toute by the morning at the border. 
On the map in the museum, several older homes I pointed out, in which size reduction museums are located, showing the life of a profession. We were actually the warning signs, but without a directional arrow sign on the house is not enough for Westerners. After wandering around ten minutes, we decided to return to the air conditioner, because in the morning at 11, it was unbearably hot.
We run a little sightseeing from the car. Bahrainis also have a Faibel for traffic calming humps, speed bump in Saudi and also called hump in Bahrain. On the road around the island was every 200 m, a hump. And so that she can not drive around with three poles beside the road. Whether this was a long learning process?
Once we believed everything they saw, we made our way to the Formula 1 circuit. Rein Sixteen, if the race takes place. From the outside, quite unadorned. On the way to the race track, there were always several attractions signs. We drove on to the Wildlife Park, however, had closed at noon and should open a clock again. In the emergency of having to bridge a half hours, we went to us, the " Tree of Life "look.
On the satellite maps he was easy to find, with the car involved in the search difficult. For he was again signposted once. The card we had received was not helpful. Some of the country's attractions were located in the wrong place. As we drove on the wrong road, we came only to the oil museum and the first oil pump in the country. The museum we gave us was always closed, of the pump, we made a few pictures to remember a few moments after that it gets hot in the blazing sun, and we again tried the air conditioning.
The search had but at least the period covered, so we returned to the game park and glide. There are in addition to farm animals, sheep, goats, deer, some quite exotic animals like camels! The ostriches were curious, the Falcons had to serve for photo shoots, the fennec (desert fox) had too small an enclosure. The porcupines were mistaken for wild boar, but slept in spite of this offense more in the shade.
After a short break, we sped back to Manama, where creep is apt. On many streets in Bahrain the top speed to 80 km / h is limited.
For lunch we decided on the City Centre Mall, where there was also a music shop where we could look at a Clavinova that have been cheaper than in Germany. If it had not been the uncertainty with the customs, you could have almost weak.
At the border we went back through all the stations to Saudi. First, we received a note confirming well that we had entered the car too. Departure from Bahrain, travel to Saudi Arabia, the customs control and make the car slip back. Sounds so simple. But the shock was still to come. Susan's passport number was not found in the computer of the Bahraini. If they had picked up the men from the airport. With hands and feet, we were told that we should stand to the edge and Andi would pass the matter to clarify in an office. Said and done, Andy got out and disappeared from view. Then we noticed that the passports of the men were not returned, slight unrest began to spread. wait for 15 minutes, came back to the car and Andi had all three passes it. Elhamdulillah! When the territory was run by the officials eintippendem a typo. This has been corrected in the passport office and the car switch was that fact-checked carefully before the passes were handed out.
The immigration desk at the Saudi was probably a need for discussion, for he asked in 2 minutes, three times after being on the counter-question about hear. At the immigration counter, there were already traffic jam that was because of the extremely thorough customs inspection. Each car had to stop, get the men to open the trunk. Was not controlled. Instead, it was a pretty stamp, then it was waved on. Effective! Then you could tell instantly that you had to do it now with Saudi drivers on Saudi soil. From a mach five lanes to the counter, who was paged back to find a track. We had to give up the fond note with a stamp again. Then we were again left alone with the chaotic drivers, the chaotic signs and road layout. Riad was of course not signposted, so we drove toward al-Khobar. With sooo missing U-turn we turned us back toward Riyadh and with a short fuel stop and a traffic check, we arrived home safely. But in this case is not self-evident. Regular light horns, a few meters shall mount up with speed 180, the right to overtake at high speeds or simply pass on the left half in the sand. Welcome to Saudi highways when it is dark.
To around 9:30, but we were back to our Panthers, who welcomed us very happy. All are pictures in the Gallery Bahrain.
Tags: foreign , auto , bahrain , bwtc , photos , Hotel , Manama , museum , pass , travel , Saudi Arabia
