Hodeidah
Hodeidah
Hodeidah is situated on the western coast, north of the Bab-al-Mandab strait that separates Asia and Africa, or more specifically, Yemen from Djibouti, and lies on the southern Red Sea. The city grew in the 19th century under the Ottoman Empire but much of it was destroyed in 1961 by a devastating fire: from the ashes grew a new Hodeidah with a new, larger, more modern and more efficient port. In this period of growth the business world and Soviet aid played a fundamental role.
Attractions
Along the mountainsides you can see the wide terraces with their settlements and farms, and an important centuries-old system of canals that carefully makes the most of the area’s most precious resource: water. The landscape is decorated with impressive fortified medieval citadels and by characteristic houses in stone with chalk decorations and battlements.
Shopping
Here too, as in the rest of Yemen, local craftsmanship is based on ancient traditions: from old silver to amber (beware of fakes…), from oil lamps and alabaster trinkets to handmade baskets and ceramics.Food
The local cuisine is characterised by the traditional meat sauce-based dish saltah. Mutton, beef and chicken are often served with rice, vegetables or fresh bread. It is spiced in different ways depending on the person’s taste, and is sometimes accompanied by local honey. The most popular drinks are tea and Qisher prepared with toasted coffee bean shells, cardamom and other spices. According to Islamic law alcoholic drinks are banned and are only served in some international hotels.Currency
Currency in Yemen: Yemeni rial (YER)
