Saudi Arabia: Mecca At Sunset
Mecca aka Makkah is the holiest place in Islam and the birthplace of Prophet Mohammad. Its the third largest city in Saudi Arabia with about 2 million, albeit the population swells to 3x that at the time of hadj. The centerpiece of the city is the Great Mosque of Mecca aka Masjid al Haram is the world’s holiest mosque, world’s largest mosque, and the world’s most expensive building. The mosque has a capacity of 4 million worships and is a truly monumental site (as well as everything surrounding it). There are 9 minarets, but clearly more are under construction. The black rectangular cube-like Kaaba or Kabah is the heart of the mosque and the most sacred place in Islam, the direction of worship. Pilgrims circumnavigate around Kaaba stopping for prayer, a truly mesmerizing sight, especially at sunset as the lighting and colors and illumination changes the panorama over and over.
