This morning, I went on a city tour of Muscat. My overall impression is that it is a very livable city. Dubai and Abu Dhabi are flashy, ever growing, with their motto being bigger is better. Here the impression I get is of the balance between people and nature and an emphasis on quality of life. Except on the mountainsides, … Read More
Muscat, Oman
This morning I flew on Air Dubai to Muscat. It’s a short flight (50 minutes), but they start boarding very early so I was up and out before I’d had a good night’s sleep. Despite the shortness of the flight, the flight attendants passed out a lunch box. On flights in the states, you probably wouldn’t even get water. The … Read More
Dubai, UAE – Day 3
Today was spent going from one end of Dubai to the other, in each place viewing different perspectives of the city. First stop was “the old town.” It isn’t old, it’s a replica. My favorite part was the painted camels that reminded me of the artist decorated cows that were on display in NYC many years ago. Next was “the … Read More
Dubai, UAE- Day 2
After disembarking from the ship, the next stop was a transfer to the hotel. It’s a lovely hotel and the room is enormous—a welcome change after the tiny cabin on the ship. I’d wanted to visit a local souk, not the insanely over-the-top malls that Dubai is famous for. Google directed me to the Khan Murjan Souk. When the taxi … Read More
Dubai, UAE
Today was a very busy day, but this will be a short post. We disembark from the ship tomorrow morning. Between packing and saying goodbye to friends met on board, there hasn’t been much time to write. I spent this morning at the Dubai Miracle Garden. It is a miracle that this garden exists in the middle of the desert … Read More
Sir BaniYas Island, UAE
I spent most of yesterday in bed trying to shake a cold that came on like a monsoon. I didn’t know I was capable of sleeping that much. But it seems to have helped. What I missed was a return visit to the Abu Dhabi Louvre. This morning I felt better. Most passengers opted to stay at the beach. I … Read More
At sea on the Persian Gulf
Today we are traveling from Bahrain to Abu Dhabi. So not many photos. I was up in time for sunrise, a very different experience than inspiring French Polynesia. The water was a uniform color. Not a cloud in the sky. When the sun made it’s way over the horizon it was a glowing orb, perfectly round and blinding. My morning … Read More
Kingdom of Bahrain
When I pulled back the curtain this morning, the view was less than inspiring. The ship was docking at an industrial looking pier. The view was of shipping containers and low block-like storage buildings. No green anywhere. The ride into central Bahrain took about thirty minutes. I kept expecting to see the gorgeous skyline and architecture of Doha, Dubai and … Read More
Doha, Qatar
This was my first time in Qatar. I suspect that even if I had, I wouldn’t have recognized it. Everything is new and newer. The souk (market), which looks old, was built in 2006 after a fire destroyed the original 200 year old structure. The guide told us that 40, 30, even 25 year old buildings are torn down to … Read More
Aboard the MSC Euribia in Dubai
My friend Sue and I boarded the ship for a seven day cruise around the Emirates. When we return from the cruise we will spend a couple of days in Dubai before heading to Oman. The ship is quite a shock after my last two cruises. It is VERY large–6,000+ passengers. Not my preferred way to travel, but I liked … Read More