Travel to Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) - November 18-20, 2014

We arrived in Dubai, UAE on Thursday, November 20 after two days of travel…San Francisco to Philadelphia via US air with an overnight stay in Philly.  Then we headed to Doha, Qatar via Qatar Air (business class thanks to our frequent flier miles).  The food and accommodations on Qatar air were great with seats that made into beds and great on demand gourmet food (best airline food so far) with a great Bordeaux Grand Cru.  We were even offered pajamas, which we declined.

We then had a short layover in Doha and a short flight to Dubai…they even managed to serve us champagne and breakfast in the 50 minutes trip.

We were met at the airport and taken to the Downtown Sofitel in Dubai.  The hotel is beautiful and only 6 months old.  It took us awhile to figure out the lights, etc. but we have been enjoying our accommodations including the view from our room of the world’s tallest building 

Chris immediately headed to the pool for a swim.  We were both exhausted not having slept much on the plane despite the beds.  We wanted an early dinner and an early night.  We were told a great place to get fod early afternoon was the mall.  So we headed to the Dubai Mall (biggest mall in the world).  Our hotel is situated across the street from one of the metro stations and there is an air conditioned enclosed elevated walkway from the station to the mall…probably close to 0.5 miles long.  Amazing!  My new phrase is “only in Dubai”.

The mall contains over 1200 stores and many restaurants and venues including an ice-skating rink, movie theater, and an underwater zoo and aquarium (containing a giant crocodile (20 ft.) from Australia).

There was a Rainforest CafĂ©, Red Lobster, Cheesecake Factory, and a Coldstone Creamery getting ready to open.  I think the most amazing was a half a floor of designer children’s stores including Ralph Lauren, Burberry, Armani Junior, Fendi Kids, Gucci Kids…amazing to think how much money people have to spend on clothes that will soon be outgrown.

The city is described as opulent.  Chris says a cross between Singapore and New York City with the most varied inhabitants/visitors I've ever come across (sheiks and sultans everywhere).  80% of the resident population is foreigners.

I think what I find most amazing is the architecture both here in Dubai and in Abu Dhabi – more on that later.  The skyline is hundreds of high rises, in all different, shapes and fascinating to look at.  Construction is every where and it is amazing to think that 15 years ago this was just a desert!

We unfortunately didn’t have an opportunity to visit the other mall which contains an indoor ski slopte!!

Outside the mall we watched an amazing musical show of the Dubai Fountains.  Crowds gathered an hour ahead to view the spectacle. (will post a video).


We called it a night to ready for our trip to Abu Dhabi.

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