Dubai it away

Al Ain

 I definitely meant to post this in January, before too much time disappeared between actually visiting Al Ain and getting round to posting the photos. Al Ain is very different to Dubai, but a great place to visit.

In the boring fact section, Al Ain translates as The Spring and it is a very green oasis city, it was fab to be able to walk out of the hotel and straight into a green park- particularly in the January weather. It was just the right temperature to be outside and sit out with a Starbucks breakfast and just enjoy the surroundings.  

Al Ain is also the second largest city in Abu Dhabi, and right on the Oman border, which made for an interesting view as we headed up the mountains- Jabel Hafeet.

There is also a fort network built around this area, which was an interesting place to visit. I am sure I am the only person in the world who can get lost in a fort built around two different squares- but I get easily confused in these places and struggled to work out which side of which quadrangle I had entered and then left. I blame the interlocking rooms and the covered verandas.  My sense of direction was only mildly helped by being able to identify one side of the fort from the other by referencing the exhibitions. A tribute to the life of Sheikh Zayed was on the right, and a photo exhibition of the works of Wilfred Thesiger from his 1945 travels to the Empty Quarter.  It was amazing to see how the people were living then compared to what can be seen around you today.

 Fantastic place for a chilled and relaxed weekend- loved the greenery compared to the sleek glass skyscrapers of Dubai and the sandy desert from my window at home.

There and Here

Month of Contrasts...

I really wanted to make a few notes about the last month while we are actually still in December and upload a few photos of what has been going on.

There has been the Dubai times, National Day, the Rugby 7s and the run up to the vacation, and then the time in Enkirch; down time with log fires and snow.

 

Dubai first- the start of December was the 43^rd National Day celebration, so school was transformed slightly. Instead of 8^th Graders using the soccer pitch for their own version of lunchtime soccer we had camel rides and falconry displays taking place around a majalis, while everyone waited in line for the henna, and ate traditional food.  This of course led into a three-day holiday…

 

We made the most of the three-day holiday by heading out for some of the rugby 7s, not just about the rugby, but about the atmosphere- total expat party, and the people watching.

Where the month started with holidays and days sitting in the sun, it has ended with Christmas vacations, roaring log fires, ridiculously cute German villages, and Christmas card style snow scenes from the windows.

Best wishes for the new year!

Dubai it here?

Out and about…

Once again it has taken longer than it should have done to write a few thoughts about Dubai and the surrounding Emirates. I did get out to Abu Dhabi for some of the Grand Prix weekend. Unfortunately having a working work of Sunday to Thursday meant that I missed the actual race as I was stuck in Dubai and didn’t have time to make the trip to Abu Dhabi.  On the flip side driving here is somewhat similar to dodging and weaving around Yas Marina Circuit so I have had a somewhat similar experience myself.   It was pretty fun be able to see some of the practice sessions and the time trials though over the weekend.

The weather here is absolutely glorious at the minute, sunny, light breezes, low humidity and just right for spending time outside and enjoying the outside space that are to found. That meant that this weekend has been spent out and about in Dubai. Old Dubai and Deira. The old fort, the old souk, walking along by the creek and generally enjoying sitting outside and people watching.

Next week is National Day, so I am sure there will be a lot of celebrations going on, a whole three days off work (one of which was a newly announced surprise) and a weekend that leads into the rugby 7s. Looking forward to next week.