(Photo taken in front of the Etihad Towers, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, October 2017. I have downloaded more than 100 photos, from our trip to Dubai. Just scroll down past this posting, you will find 13 more titles with just photos. Enjoy!)
How can one describe and put into words all the magic memories you engraved into my heart. Fond memories that will forever remain locked into the deepest of my soul. Just like photos, my words will never give you fair justice. You have charmed me with your grandiosity and never before have I ever been wowed as much by a city.
Embedded in your Arabian desert , your stunning magnificent architectural wonders, have left me totally mesmerized and wondering, what will be next? Will you change yourself to marble? Perhaps into gold? You are officially the home of the tallest, largest, greatest man made construction in the world, the Burj Khalifa, which we got to ascend its 828 metres in less than a minute, I kid you not... Just that elevator ride, was an astonishing experience. A magnificent tower, with its foyer conveniently located right at the Dubai Mall, the biggest shopping centre on the planet. Just walking through its corridors, totally gives a other meaning to window shopping. Among your stunning architectural work, lies the Burj Al Arab, 280 metres tall, perched on its own artificial man made island, the island of "Palm Jumeirah" a chain of interconnected islands, man engineered, shaped like a palm tree, that is actually visible from space. A must see to believe it...... Your Burj Al Arab, is home of the most luxurious hotel on earth, rated as the only 7 star accommodations, going for a stunning $18,716 per night for some suites. Shaped like a large sail, your city now have it's own Icon, just like Paris has its Eiffel Tower. Here is a small list of adjectives frequently used throughout our tours of your city, "richest", "newest", "boldest", "fastest", and the list just goes on and on.
Built in a vast sea of soft, clean white coral sand, your landscape simply consists of sand dunes and one creek. A creek conveniently dredged deep enough for larger vessels to pass through, snaking its way through your largest buildings, where traditional Dhows sails your waters, entertaining tourist like us for a memorable night of sailing, a tour of your lighted city skyline and a lovely dinner.
Indeed you entertained. On a beautiful evening, you brought us dune bashing, crowned by a golden desert sunset BarBQ dinner and then proceeded to give us, a flamboyant live traditional show of dance, music and costumes. Belly dancers, flame throwers, camel riding and more. You made me feel like a royal "mage", prancing us on a red velvet covered camel. Then, in your older part of the city, your Heritage Quarters, you enchanted me and lifted me on a make believe magic carpet ride, of course, with a little help from my vivid and wildest imagination. Only and only, if just for a few seconds, a few magical instants, you brought me to tears of joy, right into the fairy world of Aladdin and Alibaba. You charmed me and delighted all my senses, with your exotic music, scent of lotus incenses, beautiful orchids and lilies. Although in the Middle East, I sometimes felt I was in the near Orient. You invited my taste buds to sinfully deserts, pastries that could drive a Parisian baker to shame and last but not least, your delicious fresh fruits trays of rock mellon and succulent fresh dates. Delicious foods, mainly of Libyan cuisine, humus, fresh pita and Arabian salads. Your bazars locally known as "Souks", left me with a sense of adventure and discovery with your endless alleys of gold, spices, oriental lamps and merchants of fabric. I did indulged and purchased gifts of filled dates, fine pastries, beautiful pashminas of 100% cashmere imported from India and last but not least, "shoes", tiny little Aladdin shoes, that I will proudly display into my home. You even soothed my body, one very fine early morning at the beach, in your very warm and highly salted Persian Gulf waters. Every evening you welcomed us to an other restful night, cradled in the luxury of duvet covers, duvet pillows and mattress covers, nothing but luxury rooms and suites. You did indeed made us feel very comfortable in every hotels we stayed, rooms that included spectacular views of nearby towers, your delicious complimentary breakfast, suitable for a sheikh and his sheikha.
Then, you gave us 'Abu Dhabi"! Your Capital city, older and richer, neighbouring emirate. Nothing but the best. The "Corniche" and a visit to the "Emirates Palace" where we had tea and cakes. A real life palace of unprecedented luxury, a two winged marina hotel beyond five star rating and finally the "Mosque"! Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. Beautifully designed with marble on marble, gold, mosaics of semi precious stones, stained glass windows and chandeliers, made of multicoloured Swarovski crystal like I had never seen before. What a delight! In between our travels lets not forget the two magnificent and delightful nights in the desert, where we danced, dined and enjoyed delicious foods and wonderful company.
Dubai, you will forever leave me infatuated and in "wow".
Fall of 2017.
Embedded in your Arabian desert , your stunning magnificent architectural wonders, have left me totally mesmerized and wondering, what will be next? Will you change yourself to marble? Perhaps into gold? You are officially the home of the tallest, largest, greatest man made construction in the world, the Burj Khalifa, which we got to ascend its 828 metres in less than a minute, I kid you not... Just that elevator ride, was an astonishing experience. A magnificent tower, with its foyer conveniently located right at the Dubai Mall, the biggest shopping centre on the planet. Just walking through its corridors, totally gives a other meaning to window shopping. Among your stunning architectural work, lies the Burj Al Arab, 280 metres tall, perched on its own artificial man made island, the island of "Palm Jumeirah" a chain of interconnected islands, man engineered, shaped like a palm tree, that is actually visible from space. A must see to believe it...... Your Burj Al Arab, is home of the most luxurious hotel on earth, rated as the only 7 star accommodations, going for a stunning $18,716 per night for some suites. Shaped like a large sail, your city now have it's own Icon, just like Paris has its Eiffel Tower. Here is a small list of adjectives frequently used throughout our tours of your city, "richest", "newest", "boldest", "fastest", and the list just goes on and on.
Built in a vast sea of soft, clean white coral sand, your landscape simply consists of sand dunes and one creek. A creek conveniently dredged deep enough for larger vessels to pass through, snaking its way through your largest buildings, where traditional Dhows sails your waters, entertaining tourist like us for a memorable night of sailing, a tour of your lighted city skyline and a lovely dinner.
Indeed you entertained. On a beautiful evening, you brought us dune bashing, crowned by a golden desert sunset BarBQ dinner and then proceeded to give us, a flamboyant live traditional show of dance, music and costumes. Belly dancers, flame throwers, camel riding and more. You made me feel like a royal "mage", prancing us on a red velvet covered camel. Then, in your older part of the city, your Heritage Quarters, you enchanted me and lifted me on a make believe magic carpet ride, of course, with a little help from my vivid and wildest imagination. Only and only, if just for a few seconds, a few magical instants, you brought me to tears of joy, right into the fairy world of Aladdin and Alibaba. You charmed me and delighted all my senses, with your exotic music, scent of lotus incenses, beautiful orchids and lilies. Although in the Middle East, I sometimes felt I was in the near Orient. You invited my taste buds to sinfully deserts, pastries that could drive a Parisian baker to shame and last but not least, your delicious fresh fruits trays of rock mellon and succulent fresh dates. Delicious foods, mainly of Libyan cuisine, humus, fresh pita and Arabian salads. Your bazars locally known as "Souks", left me with a sense of adventure and discovery with your endless alleys of gold, spices, oriental lamps and merchants of fabric. I did indulged and purchased gifts of filled dates, fine pastries, beautiful pashminas of 100% cashmere imported from India and last but not least, "shoes", tiny little Aladdin shoes, that I will proudly display into my home. You even soothed my body, one very fine early morning at the beach, in your very warm and highly salted Persian Gulf waters. Every evening you welcomed us to an other restful night, cradled in the luxury of duvet covers, duvet pillows and mattress covers, nothing but luxury rooms and suites. You did indeed made us feel very comfortable in every hotels we stayed, rooms that included spectacular views of nearby towers, your delicious complimentary breakfast, suitable for a sheikh and his sheikha.
Then, you gave us 'Abu Dhabi"! Your Capital city, older and richer, neighbouring emirate. Nothing but the best. The "Corniche" and a visit to the "Emirates Palace" where we had tea and cakes. A real life palace of unprecedented luxury, a two winged marina hotel beyond five star rating and finally the "Mosque"! Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. Beautifully designed with marble on marble, gold, mosaics of semi precious stones, stained glass windows and chandeliers, made of multicoloured Swarovski crystal like I had never seen before. What a delight! In between our travels lets not forget the two magnificent and delightful nights in the desert, where we danced, dined and enjoyed delicious foods and wonderful company.
Dubai, you will forever leave me infatuated and in "wow".
Fall of 2017.
