More low key than Dubai, but it is the “capital” of the UAE and where the real money is.

I arrived back from Sydney via Dubai late in the afternoon, 24 hours before the ship.

I walked out and found what seemed like a quite underwhelming, and fairly dirty city … at least the older downtown area looked that way. It was very hot and the air thick with fine desert dust. Construction everywhere … roads and paths dug up … look down when walking! … lots of traffic …

As evening set in it was really hard to find an acceptable place for a drink and dinner …

So it was back to the hotel where the Arab food was really excellent.

Next morning early I went walking again. Huge hotels and offices …

… a dodgy park near “The Corniche” …

… with a fountain (half working) …

… this waterfront walk goes for “miles”, but it’s too hot at this time of year for it, or the beach along further.

I taxied to this – Marina Mall (left of centre) … 300+ shops, straight out of downtown USA.

… It was all shine and glitz, and throbbing with people … not!!

From there I looked back at The Corniche …

… across to the elaborate (and costliest to build) hotel in the world, The Emirates Palace (more on that later …) … (right hand half of the photo)

… and down from the tower onto the nearly completed new Sultan’s Palace!!

Then it was time to go meet the ship (Jan in the middle here) and for us to exchange news.

Next morning we took a Big Bus Tour. A much clearer, hotter day. We passed many mosques, and impressive buildings …

And the gateway to the Emirates Palace Hotel …

… and endless construction activity.

Then the highlight. The Grand Mosque. Biggest anywhere outside Saudi Arabia and third biggest in the world. Nearly brand new, with all the mod cons, this place is jaw-dropping.

White Italian marble, elaborate marble inlays, spectacular chandiliers, the worlds biggest carpet(!). Words can’t describe it. The pictures are a start …

Jan is standing in the main Prayer Room. It accomodates 40,000 at prayer …

Then to the World Trade Centre (the two tubes with funny tops) …

… which stands on top of a Mall and an interesting modern Souk.

In the evening Oceania treated us to a banquet at the Emirates Palace Hotel (stretched Hummers for transport!)

The Emirates Towers across from the Hotel looked nice at night …

… but inside is unbelieveable … the Hotel foyer has gold everywhere …

The Reception Room (for the pre-dinner cocktail party) was kinda nice too. Gold, mosaics, timber carving – no expense spared – opulent, but beautifully done. The Hotel has only 700 rooms, is thought to have cost $3 billion (I think) and is owned by the Government!

We banqueted, returned to the ship and set sail for Dubai.