In the morning today I took an excursion downtown on one of the ship’s tours. The bus didn’t stop anyplace where we could get some good pictures of the downtown buildings, so I have to be satisfied with the ones I took out of the bus window. One can only gaze in awe and wonder at the many tall, beautiful buildings, each unique in it’s own way.
Dubai has a very modern transportation system. The trains are computer controlled and they run above ground on elevated rails and below ground. The stations above ground are built in the shape of a clam shell.
Our first stop was a mosque, where we just stopped to take a picture. We were not allowed to go inside, because it was Friday and that is the day the Moslems worship. Friday and Saturday are their weekend and Sunday is the first day of their week. Most of the stores today were closed until 4 p.m. because of that.
Then we were off to see the beach on the Arabian Sea. What beautiful sand it had! I wished that we could stay there and enjoy it, but that wasn’t on the schedule. Again, just a photo op. In the following picture, taken there, you can’t see much beach, but the beautiful building in the background is one of the hotels.
Our next stop was at the Mall where one can go skiing. Imagine ! Skiing in a mall ! ! Here is a picture of the ski slope taken from behind the glass partition separating it from the mall lobby.
At the mall we were offered juice and a short refreshment break, then on we went to see the old part of the city where a tent had been set up to show what the lifestyle was before they discovered oil. Here we could have gone for a camel ride. One lady did and I might have, but our time was too short and we had to leave.
Our last stop was at the gold souks (market stalls). I never saw so much gold in all my life ! ! ! Stall after stall after stall of gold !
I wasn’t interested in purchasing gold so I went down the alley way to the clothing stalls. I was hoping to find a beaded sleeveless top, but didn’t have any luck. There were all kinds of fancy dresses and if there had been more time, I would have tried something on. Good thing I didn’t because that evening I went to the Dubai Mall – the largest mall in the city and that is where I bought my beautiful taupe gown.
Getting around in a large city is always an adventure. There was a shuttle bus from the ship to one of the other malls, but others who had been there said it was more expensive than the Dubai Mall. Anyhow, I got on the shuttle bus and met a couple I know, so we decided to get a cab to the Dubai mall once we got off the shuttle bus downtown. Aong the way we met another person who was interested in doing the same thing, so for about $2. a piece we got to our destination around 5:15 p.m. We agreed on a meeting place for 7 p.m. with the understanding that if anyone didn’t show up, the others wouldn’t wait. My first goal was to find someplace to have my finger nails refilled. There are about 1000 stores in the Dubai Mall and plenty of information booths so I had no problem finding out where to go. Unfortunately, the first appointment I could get was for 7 p.m. so I knew I wouldn’t be going back with my friends. Our guide had told us that we could feel safe in Dubai, because the crime rate was 0 %. Anyone who commits a crime gets deported and the rich Emirates don’t have to rob anyone, so I had no qualms going back by myself. I looked around the mall, getting lost a couple of times while looking for a department store called Debenham’s where I was told I could find some nice dresses and that is where I bought the 2 of them. Then I had to search for the nail salon and I was worried I might not be able to, but I made it in time for my appointment with a couple minutes to spare. In Canada, small drills are used to do the manicure and it takes about a half an hour, more or less. Here they do everything by hand with a nail file and it took two hours ! ! ! The young lady did a very nice job though.
After that I did some more window shopping and decided that I had better find some taupe thread in order to shorten my new gown. I was sent to a part of the mall where one finds the type of clothes that the locals wear and I saw some that were very beautiful covered with beads and very elegant, but nothing that I would ever wear back home – besides I already had purchased mine. The place where they sold thread was already closed so I ended up in a men’s tailor shop, where not too much English was spoken. At first the tailor thought that I wanted him to shorten the gown and he wanted me to go into a broom closet to change. I finally was able to make him understand that I wanted to shorten it myself and that what I needed was a needle and thread. Mission accomplished, I went in search of a cab. A sales person in the shop led me to the cab stand nearby (people were very helpful here) and I took a cab all the way back to the ship tired but happy. The shuttle bus stopped running at 8 p.m. and by then it was after 10 p.m.)
Since it was Friday evening and the next day was a holiday for the locals, there were a lot of them out shopping, some with their children. The men were all decked out in their long white gowns and the ladies were wearing their long black ones with veils covering their heads. Very few had their faces covered. Some of the ladies were really very beautiful. They must wear lovely clothing when they are in their homes because in the shops there are some gorgeous, colourful long gowns.
So now you know all about my adventures in Dubai. I’m way behind in my blog. Since Dubai, we have been to two places in Oman. I’ll try to catch up before I go to visit the Valley of the Kings in Egypt tomorrow. I’m feeling a lot better than I did yesterday – sore throat is gone and sneezing has almost completely stopped. The tour tomorrow lasts 11 hours, so I decided not to go dancing, but to stay in my room and rest,relax and recuperate.
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