Abu Dhabi

The big day at last - Wednesday 15 May! We caught the train to the airport & Anne came to see us off! Our Etihad full flight left at 3.45pm; 14 hours later landed at midnight in Abu Dhabi - multiple meals (not over wonderful), no sleep; 3 movies. We stayed at the Crown Plaza Hotel on Yas Island; - lovely - not far from airport but 30 kms from city centre. Lovely breakfast overlooking golf course; Arabian Gulf! We bought a 2 day Hop on Hop off bus ticket. We caught the free shuttle bus to Yas Mall - HUGE, new, very wide walkways; opens at 10am until midnight. It was the 1st day of Ramadan so place virtually deserted. Ferrari World is on one side of Mall; new Skyway; Climbing Centre being built on other side. Nearby is Waterworks; Disney World theme park as well as world class racing car track; other sports arenas. Abu Dhabi made up of 7 islands all connected by bridges; tunnels to city one. Many of them still being developed with apartment blocks; 'themed' beautifully designed TALL buildings; hotels etc; e.g. one island cultural one, another technology one, another Presidential one. We sat in open top deck of bus; nearly got blown away by HOT strong wind! 37%. We visited the main attraction of Abu Dhabi, the Sheikh ...... Mosque. INCREDIBLE! All white Italian marble with HUGE tapestry carpet; ornate chandeliers 8m TALL; 3m across - jewels sparkled from them. We had not thought about head covering etc; I had to wear a full cover maroon gown. Warren was ok in shorts; coloured shirt. We completed the town tour circuit passing the incredible Presidential palaces, hotel; palace where they greet world leaders. UAE formed 1981 until then under British control. Oil discovered 1958; trade 'exploded' since then. Before then people lived of oyster trade; date cultivation. The 2nd day we went on Gulf cruise in huge wooden Dahl boat. Very misty not good views. In afternoon we visited their newish Louvre - INCREDIBLE! Buildings (exhibition halls showing Rembrant paintings; World Photographs History; as well as 4 wings of museum pieces - like Ikea just kept on going; going!!!) All covered with HUGE filigree bronze dome cover. After a full day we went to the airport at midnight & caught Dublin flight at 2.45am - arriving at 7.30am. Plane half full so we were able to lie down for a few hours sleep!

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