International Airports: Worst - King Abdulaziz International vs Best - Hamad International

Daily writing prompt

What’s the best and worst airport you’ve been to?

Worst airport: King Abdulaziz International Airport

December 16th, 2016 – our 11 hour layover in King Abdulaziz International Airport – Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

This 11 hour layover to Switzerland felt like being trapped in constant misery!

The terminal we were in was so packed, there was barely a seat or piece of floor available.

There was a Tim Hortons (yes, its true!) but not anything typical to the Canadian menu was served, along with two other cafes with overpriced, terrible snacks.

The only available bathroom for women was used as a public shower.

South Asian and Arab women lined up at the sinks to either wash and clean their feet, face, underarms and other body parts or getting ready for prayer. The floor had water flowing everywhere, and the toilets (at least there were toilets rather than a hole to squat over!) were soaked with water too!

What few seats to sit on in the terminal were hard, and uncomfortable – with arm rests – so you couldn’t lay out on them to sleep.

Michael had no problem finding a spot on the cold, dirty floor to stretch out and sleep on.

I, on the other hand, had my new white North Face jacket on and wouldn’t lay on the floor.

I finally located a small piece of wall where I could lean, stretch out my legs, and hopefully find some rest.

I eventually started to sleep but was rudely awakened as a family pushed themselves in around me.

I say rude because they were literally trying to push me out.

I refused to move.

The woman sitting next to me kept pushing at me.

Meanwhile, in another apart of the terminal, Michael woke from his deep sleep on the dirty floor.

He walked the tiny terminal looking for me in the crowds of people taking up almost every piece of flooring.

Then he spotted me and took pictures.

When I saw Michael I jumped up, giving her the space and spent the rest of the time either walking laps up and down the wee terminal or sitting in a broken chair.

Next stop…..Geneva!

S, 🇸🇦