Dubai

Flight 3 of 17

Saturday, March 17 to Saturday, March 24

Top of the mornin' to ya!  Happy St. Patrick's Day, from Dubai!

Riding "Rocky" the Camel

We arrived late Saturday night, and Kristen's parents (Kate & Chris) picked us up from the airport.  The Dubai airport (DXB), complete with a gold palm tree and the largest Duty Free shop we've yet to see, was a great introduction to the grandeur that is Dubai. In the coming week, we drove next to Bentleys, Ferraris, and even a few Rolls-Royces.  Cranes were as much a part of the sweeping skyline as skyscrapers (including the tallest building in the world, the Burj Khalifa).  The malls were like cities, with every designer outlet that ever boasted a handbag.  This is a city where indoor ski slopes, Seven Star hotels, and man-made islands actually exist!

Burj Khalifa - the tallest building in the world!

Burj Khalifa...At the bottom.

Burj Khalifa...At the Top.

We took plenty of time to explore the main highlights, but what we enjoyed most was spending time with Kristen's family, exploring Dubai with our two new friends, Francine & Tanya (Kristen's brother-in-law's sister & her friend, who happened to be visiting Dubai at the same time), and relaxing at the infinity pool at Kate & Chris' high-rise condo on the man-made Palm Jumeirah "Palm Tree" island.

Walking in the desert.

Jumping in the desert!

 Over the seven days in Dubai, here are some of the notable experiences:

• Scaled (via elevator) the tallest building in the world (Burj Khalifa).
• Went on a Desert Safari...where we rode a camel, named Rocky, and went sand-duning in a SUV.
• Ate Cheesies, Kristen's all-time-favorite food in the world (Lebanese bread, filled with Lebanese cheese).  Ryan enjoyed fresh shawarmas next door.
• Visited Kristen's childhood house, when they lived in Dubai before it was a global hotspot.
• Enjoyed drinks in the Burj Al Arab, the world's only Seven Star hotel.
• Watched the dancing fountains, in front of the Burj Khalifa.  They made Vegas' Bellagio fountains look like little more than a limp lawn sprinkler.
• Shopped in the Gold Souks, and ventured into a back alley, to a secret shop of knock-off handbags, to a secret room of even nicer knock-off handbags.
• Explored several malls, shopping areas, and hotels, including the 1,200-store Dubai Mall, Mall of the Emirates, Atlantis Hotel, Dubai Marina, Madinat Jumeirah, Al Qasr Hotel (complete with boat ride on the canal) and many more.

Sand Duning!

Despite the wind storms that made national news while visiting (not quite as bad as the one experienced by Tom Cruise in MI3), we had a fantastic time and will keep memories of Dubai with us.  (Literally – every time we open something, we find more sand!)  Thanks so much to Kate & Chris for being fantastic hosts, and thanks to Francine & Tanya for being such great travel buddies!