[QUOTE=ExpatCat;1914047]Guys,
According to my information, the reasons for the Ramee closures did not have anything to do with our hobby.
The California was closed before Ramadan due to an altercation between a Saudi prince and a doorman. The prince threw his weight around with the authorities and that was that, the hotel closed. The next stage was that the electricity was turned off and the contents of the freezers then rotted. Rats were seen in the now desertrd lobby and the stench of rotting food caused the neighbours to complain. That place won't be open or fit for habitation in the near future, methinks.
The Ramee International, home of Rockys & Cosmos was apparently closed for serving alcohol during Ramadan. This, the authorities take far more seriously than having a load of tarts on the premisis. Apparently they were serving booze in teapots. This trick has caused a number of venues to close over the years. Some just don't learn.
I have no information at the moment as to why the Phoenicia has closed. They may have been serving booze on room service during Ramadan. That is all it would take.
I still believ that our hobby has not completely died out over here, but the gov't is doing it's best to try to increase tourism on one hand and kick the hotels that are doing their best in the teeth on the other. Strategy, what strategy! HA!
Keep safe.
Expatcat.[/QUOTE]Thanks for the update. What I find interesting is that although Phoenicia Hotel is supposedly closed for 'renovation', their disco is still open. Why shut the hotel and let them operate both discos? Strange indeed. Or maybe they are on probation for a certain period, who knows. BTW, Mashtan Hotel also closed down at the end of May. Their was some fight between some Saudis and Bahrainis and the cops came and arrested all WG's on the hotel premises. My regular there barely managed to escape by hiding on the roof top until the cops left.
