For the last 14 years that we lived in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain was our go-to “Get Away” location. On long weekends, we would drive across the King Fahd Causeway, check into a nice hotel, see a movie, relax around the pool, and have a nice dinner at one of the many excellent restaurants in the capital. Glenna didn’t have to wear her black abaya or cover her hair. Shops and stores stayed open during prayer, and we could sit together in a café. The world-class malls were air-conditioned with top-end shopping, entertainment, and restaurants. A true oasis for us.

Bahrain is an island nation in the Persian Gulf between Saudi Arabia and Qatar. It has a population of 1.5 million people, and its capital is Manama. We have gone to Bahrain countless times, but I only took pictures once, in March 2006.

Driving into Manama from Saudi Arabia

Many people believe that the Garden of Eden
was here in Bahrain

Bahrain has several well-preserved old forts dating back to 2000 BCE

While Bahrain has ultra-modern shopping centers, hotels, and apartment complexes, it still has pockets of older shops, communities, and neighborhoods