Mukha or Al-Mukha (Mocha) is a city port which borders the Red Sea and has been associated with coffee since 1300, but became famous during the founding of a European coffee culture in the 1700s. 
 
"Tea house and café in the centre of Mukha. When painting this picture the wind was so strong I had to hold onto my board.
 
When I had mentioned to the student I met in Taiz that I was planning to visit Mukha he asked me if I would deliver a letter for him to his brother who lived there. As his brother was a doctor who had done much of his training in the UK, and also spoke English, he thought he would be interested to meet me. The letter seemed a good introduction.
Finding the address turned out to be quite a challenge, as like in Saudi, few streets have names or numbers. I started at the hospital and finished up being escorted by a young boy to the house about a mile away on the outskirts of town. My effort was well rewarded for when I did finally reach the house I was made very welcome, being invited by the doctor, who spoke excellent English, to join him and his family for a meal. We had a selection of cooked vegetables with small bits of lamb, soraham and fish, all eaten with the hand, and often wrapped in bread. After the meal the doctor came with me on a tour of the town before seeing me off at the taxi station." - MH