DUBAI Recap

Finally! Get ready to scroll. We've been home now for more than a month, and we still talk about the trip almost every day. I'll post more pictures on FB (sometime in the next year, hopefully), but in the meantime, enjoy these little tidbits.

We flew from Cedar Rapids and after two short flights and one 14-hour flight, we were in Dubai at 10 p.m. local time. Laura and Eric (Tim's sister and future brother-in-law and our hosts) picked us up and whisked us to their high rise! This was one of the views at night from their balcony. Can you spot the lit-up golf course?

This is a balcony view during the day. Dubai was such an interesting city in that, even the oldest parts weren't that old. Laura and Eric live in "new" Dubai, which is under a constant state of construction.

The  first full day we were there, we took part in a legit Dubai tradition: brunch. The work week in Dubai is Sunday-Thursday to follow Muslim tradition, and on Fridays, people pile into fancy hotels to eat and drink everything they could want for 4 hours or so. We went to the Atlantis on the man-made Palm island off the coast of Dubai.

During the day a few times, we did what any Midwesterner in early spring would do in a hot climate: we sun-worshiped. Tim's parents got a room at a Westin resort with a private beach and pools.

Laura also showed us another public beach area with some of the city skyline in the background. It was a 100+ degrees every day we were there, but it really wasn't too unbearable (as I'm sure it is now!)

During some other days, we also observed another Dubai tradition: malls. The malls in Dubai were unbelievable, and one included an indoor ski slope. Amazing!

One mall is also part of the tallest building in the world (currently), the Burj Khalifa. While we were waiting in line, we took some pictures of the model.

Here we are at the top! (Or as high as they let you go). Awesome city views.

After we went up, we ate dinner at a Thai restaurant near Dubai's version of Vegas' Bellagio fountains. Great show! I was geeking out. Speaking of food, we ate a crazy variety of cuisines while we were there... Thai, French, Italian, Lebenese, Indian, Middle Eastern (general?), and did some cooking at home. It was great.

One night, we had dinner in Laura/Eric's neighborhood, which includes a (what else?) man-made marina. To the right, you can see a woman who was completely covered. I saw a lot of traditional dress while we were there, but Dubai is really modern, too. Such contrast!

Midway through the week, we went on a desert excursion. A nice man in a LandRover picked us up at the apartment and drove us 40 minutes out of town. We let a little air out of the tires and went DUNE BASHING. Better than a roller coaster, people. Basically, you just drive up, over and into large sand dunes.

After bashing, we went to a "traditional" Bedoin camp for camel rides, sheesha, henna tattoos, belly dancers and dinner.

I had never seen a desert like this before (Arizona doesn't count). Our Land Rovers stopped so we could take pictures, and the kids were sliding down the sand. The trip was one of my favorite things (even though it was probably the most touristy, haha.)

Toward the end of the week, we visited the Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi is about 40 minutes from Dubai and is the more conservative capital of the Emirate that both cities are in. The mosque was gorgeous -- 9 ton chandelier, some of the largest (if not THE largest) woven rugs and mosaic tile floors in the world. It was a "world traveler" moment to learn a little more about a different religious culture.

Women had to be covered, though. Did I mention it was 106 degrees outside on this day?

On the last days of our trip, we went to Old Dubai and has dinner on a glass boat that tours up and down Dubai creek. Bateaux Dubai originally started with dinner cruises up and down the Seine in Paris (now I want to do that, too), but it was a lovely evening with some pretty spectacular food (since some of you know me, you know there will be food pictures on FB).

The very  last thing we did on the day we flew home was visit the souks in Old Dubai. There were gold, textile, spice and "old" open markets. Every ten paces or so, a man would approach us to offer "master copies" of designer bags, watches and sunglasses. I was really put off by it at first, but wound up buying some fake sunglasses.

I DID go nuts at a spice shop, though.

This is Dubai Creek during the day.

That's it for now! So many pictures to wade through and post. It was definitely a trip of a lifetime, and I'm so glad we had an excuse to go by visiting Laura and Eric. It was a lot of fun to see what their lives are like there, and we miss them! (Laura, are you reading this? WINK). :)