Shopping is the major form of entertainment here since there are no movie theaters and limited sporting events. There is a small mall in Yanbu – the first and only – with the Wal-mart type store (Hyper Panda) at one end and a food court at the other with a children’s amusement arcade. There are several chocolate confectionary stores with attractive displays like in the photo.
There is a pretty good selection in the food court including Italian and Mexican choices. While food here is hardly gourmet, there is no shortage of all the basics. Ice cream, including Baskin-Robbins, seems very popular.
No greeters at the Hyper Panda where I shop for groceries. However, at the end of the checkout stands there are young men bagging your groceries; but, they are not store employees. The store allows them to help bag, and they offer to push your cart to the car – for an expected tip.
The local version of Barnes and Noble has a small English books section: A few attractive coffee table travel books in English, some computer and business books and volumes by Shakespeare, Victor Hugo and other historic best sellers, but only a handful of more recent (20th century) books. There is a very large section with religious books full of beautiful decorative designs and patterns on their covers. I have not yet had the opportunity to see a true “street-type” market but expect to visit a small one in Old Yanbu sometime soon (about five miles down the highway).
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