As I sum up the past 3 days of my adventures in Abu Dhabi I would like to make a side note that I am currently eating Arabic Burger King kids cheeseburger. Its pretty crazy how they can make it taste EXACTLY the same halfway across the world. Anyway…
Day 3:
The 2 hour time change got me really messed up and I accidentally slept until noon…so when I attempted to get on the AD Big Bus City Tour at 1:30 and learned that it ended at 5 and I would be on the other side of the island I decided not to go. Instead I lounged by the pool in the 120 degree heat and hung out with Emily and sweet MR, who actually might be an angel/diva/princess if those exist.
Later in the evening I put on what I thought was a conservative dress and cardigan and headed to the Grand Mosque. The mosque is the 2nd largest in the world, with the largest being in Mecca. As soon as I stepped out of the taxi the security guards were right on me, saying my knee length dress was too short and I would have to leave immediately. I tried to bargain with them because I had heard from Aunt Carol that they give you the proper dress and veil to wear to enter the mosque. The security guard kept yelling and pointing at his ankle and telling me to get back in the cab. So I had to trek back to Emily and Davids apartment, which isn’t too far at all, run upstairs, put on other clothes and then run back down while the taxi driver waited on me. When I finally got there I found out they give you the abaya literally 10 steps from the taxi stand and if I could have just outrun the security guard to the dressing room I would have been fine. Oh well….
The dress was very very hot but the mosque was incredibly beautiful and the I took a tour from an Emirate man who taught the group so much about the interior and exterior of the building.
Overall, a successful day- even with the Big Bus mix up. Emily cooked us a fantastic dinner of steak, salad, and baked potatoes and I went to bed full and happy.
Day 4:
Emily took me to Saadiyat Island to a museum that showed an exhibit of what they hoped the island to become in the future. There is a Louvre coming as well as a Guggenheim. We ate lunch at the museum and brought Molly home for fear of the sweltering heat that was brewing in the car.
That night I did one of the coolest things I have ever done in my entire life…Desert BBQ and Safari
Sand Duning in a Jeep
Rode a camel
Got Henna Tattoo
Ate traditional food…still not sure what all it was
Met some really fun people, a couple from Egypt and Belgium, and a woman from Australia.
After my friend Mary (from Australia) and I rode the camel we asked the couple why they didn’t! We were shocked they would pass that up!! They both kind of laughed and said…”we have camels in our backyard, we don’t need to ride them here” J
Belly Dancing (I got called up on stage to show off my incredible dance skills, thanks to Hope Furst and the countless hours we spent learning from Dolphina)
Overall, it was the neatest experience. Anyone who goes to AD next has got to try this. Don’t do it if you get car sick easily…the sand duning was a bit rough
Final day in AD:
Emirates Palace is pretty much a huge gorgeous hotel that fabulous people stay in. It is absolutely incredible, inside and out. Also, they know how to serve tea properly! Ugh....the French are so bad at tea. Its pretty much just a tea bag and one cup's worth of hot water. One sugar packet. No milk. No side treats. And its like 5 euro. Such a let down. It was such a treat to have proper tea at the Emirates Palace!! I also splurged and ordered a chocolate molten lava cake complete with 24 ct gold flakes on top! Apparently its filled with nutrients a body needs. But to me it just seems like..."hey look we've got so much money we are going to sprinkle your cake with it" A bit Marie Antoinette-ish actually :)
David and Emily: Thanks again for everything yall did for me this week! It was such an incredible trip and I am so thankful yall let me stay with you and eat all your food and stare at your angel of a daughter. Love Yall
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