Re: Hajj, Women and Mahram
Having a mahram is only necessary to get permission to enter the holy city. Once you are in Mecca and Madina, as a woman, you can roam around freely. You can go to the masjid freely, read namaz in Mecca where ever you want. There's no seperate entrance for men and women ... they stand side by side together and pray (only in Mecca). It's the first and probably only time in my life where I could openly read namaz next to my brother.
As for the "copping a feel" comment above, most people go there to pray and have good intentions, but I'm sure you will find the occassional pervert. Personally, I didn't run into any problems.
There will be men who stare like they've never seen a woman in their life before and there will be the occassional comment from a man who is walking by you, but they speak in Arabic, it's not like you understand anything they are actually saying. That kind of stuff you just have to learn to ignore. That happens regardless if you are standing next to your father or brother or whether you are by yourself.
The mahram issue is Saudi law though. Without proof of a mahram, you simply cannot go. Once you are there though, you can go yourself to the masjid. You don't need an escort. Cause of the size of the crowd though, it's better to have a man with you cause people push and shove.