Bab Al Yemen, the Gate of Yemen, opens the door to the Yemeni pavilion. The replica of the historic city gate of Yemen's capital Sana'a leads - as it does in the old part of Sana'a itself - to an Arabian market.
In the 'souk' there is a smell of incense and myrrh, mocha and freshly ground spices. Silversmiths and sculptors offer their merchandise. Visitors enter the inside of a traditional Yemeni warehouse, the 'samsara', via a flight of steps. The building is constructed in the style of the world-famous Yemeni clay brick houses, which can be up to nine storeys high. The 'samsara' has three storeys, combining the different regional building methods and materials commonly used in Yemen under a single roof. Along the way through the yards and past the walls visitors will find environmental protection and irrigation exhibitions and discover the visions the citizens of reunited Yemen have for their future.
Idea for children and teenagers: Children can have a henna tattoo painted on the bare skin. For 5 marks, a flower winds from the hand to the finger, or the Yemeni women paint various motifs on back or shoulder. The tattoos last about two weeks and to fight the initial itching you get some petrol jelly on the way.
FOOD & DRINK
Between the merchants and the incense: good eating amid the bustle of the bazaar
Specials
"Brik" - puff pastry with tuna-fish or minced meat
Flat bread with minced meat or "mergez" (lamb sausage)
Couscous with lamb or fish
Beverages
Peppermint tea
