I've been in Riyadh now for a week, so unfortunately our paths didn't cross - it was close though. Though my first impressions have been quite similar than yours most of the time, there were also some differencies.
For example, my first impression about the arabs in their white robes was more like "cool - they've dressed up for some religious occasion". Only a couple of days later I learned that the Saudis wear them practically always when going out. My local Saudi colleague actually received a lot of attention, when he showed up in the office on Wednesday in trousers and a shirt. Casual Wednesday, he just said and shrugged. The other day in Jarir Bookstore I spotted one ~20 year old Saudi wearing a trendy hip hop cap with his robe.
But what was the biggest suprise for me was the huge amount of foreign people. Practically 80% of the people in my office were Pakistani, Indian or Bangladeshi. In the streets the percentage is not so high, but especially in the service industry you will often meet only foreign nationalities.
Maybe it was because I was quite thoroughly frightened by the company safety directions, the foreign ministry and several bad stories in the Internet, but I've found the life here surprisingly relaxed. The locals (and the foreign muslims living here) are very much willing to talk about Islam and their ways of life and I have to agree 100% with your comment on the hospitality of this country.
trsqr
Initial thoughts
I've been in Riyadh now for a week, so unfortunately our paths didn't cross - it was close though. Though my first impressions have been quite similar than yours most of the time, there were also some differencies.
For example, my first impression about the arabs in their white robes was more like "cool - they've dressed up for some religious occasion". Only a couple of days later I learned that the Saudis wear them practically always when going out. My local Saudi colleague actually received a lot of attention, when he showed up in the office on Wednesday in trousers and a shirt. Casual Wednesday, he just said and shrugged. The other day in Jarir Bookstore I spotted one ~20 year old Saudi wearing a trendy hip hop cap with his robe.
But what was the biggest suprise for me was the huge amount of foreign people. Practically 80% of the people in my office were Pakistani, Indian or Bangladeshi. In the streets the percentage is not so high, but especially in the service industry you will often meet only foreign nationalities.
Maybe it was because I was quite thoroughly frightened by the company safety directions, the foreign ministry and several bad stories in the Internet, but I've found the life here surprisingly relaxed. The locals (and the foreign muslims living here) are very much willing to talk about Islam and their ways of life and I have to agree 100% with your comment on the hospitality of this country.