The Emerald City
That's all I can think of when I gaze at Dubai. The new Burj Khalifa, the world's largest tower is the spitting image of Oz. The stewardess' on Emirates reminded me of Glenda the Good Witch and the airport with its glittering columns and green back lit walls was just awaiting munchkins.
Day one here has been a dazzle frazzle. Sensory overload! We woke and had local jet fuel coffee (Mother was in heaven) then headed over to the Mall of Emirates where they have the indoor ski slope.
I of course found a tailor and made a bee line for a Kandoorah. The nice man measured me and found me the perfect one. When I asked for a picture he dolled me up in full local drag!
Then we met our friend Goncalo for lunch. Mother and I met him when he worked at the Lapa Palace in Lisbon and through Facebook we have kept in touch. He is now a steward with Emirates and happily lives here. The world is simply too small.
We toured around the Jumeirah hotel with great views of the Burj.
And the color of the sea here is just sublime!
We said goodbye to Goncalo and met up with our tour guide Roxy who zipped us to the Palm Island where we checked out the Atlantis hotel and their little aquarium.
Then we headed to the museum to see what Dubai used to look like as a fishing village (which was only 30 years ago). Roxy told us a friend of hers who is around 50 years old and was born in Dubai said he doesn't really know how old he is because the town was so small back then there were not birth records!
We then jumped on a water taxi and zipped across the 'creek' for the gold and spice souks. YAY!
The rose buds smelled amazing and the yellow balls on the far right are dried lemons. I bought chocolates that look like rocks and are made with camels milk. Don't ask.
BLING!
And we ended the day dead tired at the world's largest mall, The Dubai mall where we watched the fountain's dance (just like Las Vegas) and dined outside to crowd watch.
By 9pm we were tuckered out so here we are in bed at 10:30. Tomorrow is high tea at the seven star hotel and dinner with friends I met in Botswana.But tonight, there's no place like home. Or at least our hotel.
