Chop Chop!

Today I hopped into a car and ventured to the other end of town where Deira Souk is located. I thought I would wander around and look for some traditional Saudi items. This is not an easy task in Saudi Arabia as everything is imported. Although, there are some traditional pieces of hand carved furniture, swords, and jewelry that one can find. I was hoping to find some sort of stool that would be something we could eventually bring home with us.

Pulling up to the Souk we passed what is affectionately known as "chop chop square". This is the place where public executions are regularly held and is adjacent to Deira. At some point in history, these executions were only held on Fridays but now they can be held on any given day of the week. Similar punishments, like the severing of a hand are, from what I understand, no longer held at chop chop square but instead are carried out on premises where the original crime took place. So, as an average everyday person, running errands, one runs the risk of bearing witness to such public punishments.

We passed just in time to see them washing the blood off the stairs...thank goodness we didn't get there earlier!!