Riyadh's Chill: Where Your Breath Freezes Mid-Sentence & Coffee Costs More Than Your Rent
so i just got back from riyadh, and let me tell you, the weather here is... something. i checked my phone, and it's 2.38 degrees celsius right now. feels like 0.05. yeah, that's basically your breath freezing mid-sentence kind of cold. i mean, i brought a sweater, but it's like hugging a fridge. hope you like that kind of thing. seriously, it's not just cold, it's dry cold. like, your skin cracks if you forget lotion cold. but hey, at least the sky is clear, right? no clouds to complain about. though, if you get bored, abu dhabi or dubai are just a short drive away. someone told me that the desert here looks like someone spilled a giant bowl of sand. i heard that from a taxi driver who looked like he'd seen a ghost. i mean, he probably has. anyway, the coffee scene here is... intense. i heard that at this place called 'the coffee lab', they charge more for a latte than i pay for rent back home. but only if you know the secret handshake. seriously. i tried asking, but the barista just gave me a look like i was speaking gibberish. i also heard that the local market, souq wadi al jannah, is a maze designed to make you lose all your money. but that's just drunk advice from some guy who wandered in wearing flip-flops. i mean, who wears flip-flops in this? i saw a guy in a full thobe and abaya walking past my hotel, looking like he owned the place. it's a city of contrasts, man. one minute you're shivering in the wind, the next you're sweating in a crowded mall. and the food? don't even get me started. i tried this place called 'the spice route'. someone told me their lamb kabsa is life-changing. but i also heard that the same place has a secret menu only the staff know about. i tried asking, but they just smiled and handed me a menu in arabic. classic. i mean, who needs google maps when you have rumors? i used tripadvisor to find that place, and yelp for the coffee lab. the local board on facebook had some weird posts about 'ghost sightings' in the old town. i mean, seriously? riyadh has ghosts? i guess anything's possible when it's colder than your ex's heart. anyway, if you ever come here, bring layers, a sense of humor, and maybe a thermos of hot chocolate. and definitely avoid the desert at night. someone told me that. i think. maybe. anyway, that's riyadh for you. cold, confusing, and kinda fascinating. now, where did i put my gloves?
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