Abu Dhabi

We spent the weekend in the city of Abu Dhabi, just over an hour's drive from Dubai. Johan and I had dinner date with another couple friend, at a Japanese restaurant at Souq Qaryat Al Beri. We sat outside by the marina, since the weather was too pleasant to sit inside. The food was good and the company was even better. Wow, it has been a while since we sat down for a long, leisurely dinner. ha ha.

The next day, after having such a wonderful time, without the girls, we were looking forward to spending the day, exploring the city, with the girls. After breakfast, we headed to the famous Grand mosque that has a number of impressive architectural features. It's big for one, so expansive that the girls had no choice but to run around the 17,000 square meter floral marbled courtyard, and weave through the exterior columns (over a 1,000 of them!). The women had to cover up, in the abayas that are provided courtesy of the mosque. I really don't know to how to articulate the experience of wearing an abaya ... it was interesting just because it was a first for me but I was almost relieved to take it off after the visit.

Next we visited the Emirates Palace. Yet, another overtly grandiose hotel that looked impressive from the outside but ostentatious inside. Well, again, that is my opinion. We walked around the lobby for a while and then headed out in search of affordable food, which we found in a nearby mall. We spent the rest of the day leisurely, even had time to chill out in the hotel before we drove back. The girls and I wiped out the bags of snacks, sang songs all the way back and before we knew it, we were back home ... tired, relieved but contented.

The girls goofing around while Johan is trying to wake up

In the courtyard of the Grand mosque

I know, not very appropriate behaviour but this was outside the prayer halls. Inside, the girls were surprisingly well behaved.

One of many hand-crafted mosaic marble columns


That's me covered in an abaya, with the girls