Day 99 - Dubai

Day 99 – Saturday 19^th April 2014 – Dubai

A little lie-in this morning, and very glad I was not drinking the red wine last night.

Dubai Skyline

QE2

    

From the ship’s top deck is a fine view over the main city, and looking towards the dry docks/ship repair facilities, which are the biggest in the Gulf, is the Queen Elizabeth 2 which was sold to Dubai, to be used as a floating hotel.  Over three years ago, I watched in Southampton, as she left on her way to Dubai.  Of course, there is a lot on board here, who sailed on her and have very fond memories.  Whether the project to use her as a hotel has fallen through, I do not know, but I hope she does not end up as razor blades.

Driverless Train

The shuttle bus took us to the Burjuman shopping mall and short walk from there, we boarded the red line train, and this time I bought a gold card return ticket, which allows you to travel in a separate compartment with comfortable seats, either at the front of the train or the rear coming back, cost 20 dirham (£3).  

Mall of the Emirates

We were on our way to the Dubai Marina a journey of 45 minutes passing the many high rise buildings in the city centre and business areas.  Another unusual feature which caught my eye was at the station stop for the Mall of the Emirates. The indoor ski slope complex behind the shopping mall, remembering it is around thirty degrees centigrade outside.

8 Lane Highway

Leaving the train at the Dubai Marina stop, the elevated walk way takes you over the eight lane highway going to and from the city centre.  Of course, the trains, stations and walkways are all air conditioned.

Twisted Skyscrapper

Eventually you arrive on the street and are hit by the heat.  A walk along to the marina, and turning the corner, to be confronted by another amazing skyscraper; this one is twisted.  Dubai must be an architect’s dream city, as the number of different styles and materials used are all there to be seen.  If there are prizes to be given out for initiative and forward thinking, this is the place.

Marina

The marina itself is a fascinating area with walks around the water edges and you are fascinated by the size and stature the many different types of boats.  There are also water taxis to take you round the various landing stages, and run by the same company which owns the trains.

We tried to get a ferry out to Atlantis, which we could see, and situated on the manmade Palm Islands. Unfortunately, the times available were not to our schedule, and we had to give this one a miss.

Water Taxi & Pizza Place

 

For lunch we headed for a pizza restaurant near to one of the many pedestrian/road bridges and leisurely watched the world go by.  AUE being a Muslim country, they are not allowed to sell alcohol on the street or restaurants, but only in your hotel or clubs.  It was a nice way to relax after last night’s excesses.

We headed back to the ship; via train, shuttle bus and on board for 17.00.

Super Yacht 'Dubai'

Prior to sailing, I was sat on deck watching this magnificent super yacht ‘Dubai’ enter the harbour and tie up ahead of us.  About half an hour after the yacht was all secured alongside, three separate five car motorcades left, all the same style of land rovers, but leaving at slightly  different times.  I like to think, they were escorting members of the royal family, or maybe, in fact the present ruler; His Highness Sheik Mohammed bin Rashin Al Maktoum.

Farewell

We sailed at 18.45 and I stayed on deck to witness these amazing skyscrapers lighting up the sky and a wonderful backdrop to our departure.

Dubai fascinates, it shows what can be done with a blank sheet of paper and lots of money.  Its people are well integrated and very well looked after, the whole place has a feeling of prosperity, and I can see why people flock here to the desert, to be overwhelmed by its beauty and splendour; certainly a city to come back to.