As I write this, it has been raining for a few hours. I love the beautiful feeling of rain in Jeddah; it’s like a dear visitor who rarely comes but whom we all love to see and enjoy. In this particular case, however, we also have the trouble of clearing him from the streets! Every year we have the same problem with this visitor. The rain floods Jeddah’s poorly-maintained streets and images of cars floating and floundering in the water are with us for a day or two. Streets almost become movie sets with drivers trying to keep their cars moving through one pool into another and on to their destinations. Traffic laws are forgotten; the only thing that matters is keeping the car moving through the water. The unlucky drivers must not only deal with stalled cars blocking the streets in the middle of pools but also the angry looks of other drivers who are delayed by the stalled cars.

And predictably and right on cue, all the newspapers reproduce the same tired old interviews with officials! The same old promises that not even the officials themselves believe! The stimulus is rain and the response never changes. How next year this will not happen and how steps are being taken to prevent the problem in future! Promises, promises! The newspaper articles are soon put back into the cupboard where they remain until the next time it rains.

Leaving aside all talk of solutions, we have to figure out how to deal with floating cars and drivers who go madder than usual in the rain. One solution would be to find a way of transforming cars into submarines for a few days. That of course would give us the chance to experience the delights of potholes in most streets! Another suggestion is that each family save a certain sum each month — not for a new car, a TV or a vacation but for something very important indeed on these rainy days: A boat! Just think about it. If every family in Jeddah had a boat, wouldn’t that make life more interesting and entertaining? Think Venice. Picture this: The father takes the oars, the kids jump around and splash their hands in the water and the mother tries to sit calmly at the back, observing other passing boats and giving advice to the father to help him avoid collisions with reckless sailors in other boats.

For those who feel that they cannot afford a boat or who just don’t want to spend the money, don’t worry. Some entrepreneur will surely open a rent-a-boat company. That of course would be another reason for tourists to come to Jeddah. We could promote tourism by taking pictures of our boat-filled streets and merrymakers. It would be our own Venice right here in our own desert!