Photos

Shibam Hadramaout has impressive rammed earth skyscrapers. The town, classified as world heritage by Unesco since 1984 was, in the past, on the caravan route of the incense trade. We still can well imagine what an hallucination is was for the travellers, when they were arriving in Shibam, because it still looks like an hallucination! The architecture is fascinating and very different from anywhere in Yemen. The oldest houses dates to the 16th or 17th century, while some doors in wood can be as old as the 12th century.

It's beautiful but very fragile. A flood in a house has a dramatic effect: the building collapses. Remember: the walls are in rammed earth! It's probably why all the waterways are outward. Less aesthetic but probably safer.


"Before sunset" is the title of the movie with Julie Delpy and Ethan Hawke that continues the story of "Before sunrise", filmed almost 10 years before, with the same actors, always directed by Richard Linklater. In which, once again, talking is the main and strongest action of the movie!



There's nothing to do in Shibam, except watching the sunset, while discussing about life with philosophy and humor... So, don't go there alone, or you'll miss the opportunity to have a refreshing and memorable conversation (if not a romantic one) in an outstanding location.

But if you're alone, (which is different than to be miserable, don't misunderstand me) there's only one thing left to do: taking pictures.