When we approached a house, we knocked, announced ourselves loudly and then waited until they were prepared to receive us. This gave the women a chance to throw their gabayas and veils over their brilliantly coloured silk dresses they wear in the privacy of their walled and shuttered houses. The veils frequently cover even their eyes. On more than one occasion I did not notice women sitting in corners of the dark rooms until the layers of cloth moved. As in the desert tent, shoes are removed before entering.
Saudi houses tend to be large with numerous rooms and dark with few windows.
Many of the rooms are elaborately decorated. Every room is air-conditioned, a definite necessity. A broken down air conditioner is one of the few emergencies an appliance man will attend to on weekends. In the hospital, I knew one frail elderly lady was well enough to be sent home when she pulled her mattress and covers off the bed so she could sleep more comfortably on the floor. Hospitality is an art in Saudi Arabia.