Of course, we also indulged in the civilized side of Dubai. Although I'd heard about how over-the-top the city was, I was still surprised by the sheer opulence and frivolity.
We watched the fountain show and visited the aquarium at Dubai Mall. We hit up the ski slope at the Mall of the Emirates. We saw enough Burberry, Bulgari, Chanel, Fendi, Gucci, Jimmy Choo and Prada to last us a lifetime (and yes, I alphabetized that list). We had high tea at Grosvenor House, along with a surprise Birthday celebration for Susan, courtesy Rachel's machinations...oh - you didn't know it was her birthday? Neither did she!!
We went up the Burj Khalifa, to watch the sunrise. We shopped in old Dubai, along the creek, visiting the tiny Dubai Museum and Bastakiya, the neighborhood where the Iranian merchants settled back in the day.
And naturally, we devoted an entire day to Atlantis, the amazing water park out on the Palm, a man-made island shaped like a giant palm tree. Atlantis lived up to the hype, even if I was amortizing the cost of the slides, each time I rode down one. The only tricky part about the rides was their tendency to bounce you up and down, leading to Rachel getting a bruise to which surpassed my bucked-off-a-mule-in-Petra bruise, a feat I thought impossible.
I'm not sure I need to go back to Dubai ever - I wouldn't object, necessarily, but I found my 2 1/2 days to be more than sufficient. The city lacked any kind-of history or culture. If you don't like complete and utter indulgence in all things luxury, there isn't much for you in Dubai.
We watched the fountain show and visited the aquarium at Dubai Mall. We hit up the ski slope at the Mall of the Emirates. We saw enough Burberry, Bulgari, Chanel, Fendi, Gucci, Jimmy Choo and Prada to last us a lifetime (and yes, I alphabetized that list). We had high tea at Grosvenor House, along with a surprise Birthday celebration for Susan, courtesy Rachel's machinations...oh - you didn't know it was her birthday? Neither did she!!
We went up the Burj Khalifa, to watch the sunrise. We shopped in old Dubai, along the creek, visiting the tiny Dubai Museum and Bastakiya, the neighborhood where the Iranian merchants settled back in the day.
And naturally, we devoted an entire day to Atlantis, the amazing water park out on the Palm, a man-made island shaped like a giant palm tree. Atlantis lived up to the hype, even if I was amortizing the cost of the slides, each time I rode down one. The only tricky part about the rides was their tendency to bounce you up and down, leading to Rachel getting a bruise to which surpassed my bucked-off-a-mule-in-Petra bruise, a feat I thought impossible.
I'm not sure I need to go back to Dubai ever - I wouldn't object, necessarily, but I found my 2 1/2 days to be more than sufficient. The city lacked any kind-of history or culture. If you don't like complete and utter indulgence in all things luxury, there isn't much for you in Dubai.
what better way to announce your arrival than via snapchat?
pretty sure it's a Decepticon...
Dubai Museum, where they tried to culture us up...
...and failed miserably
"I know, right!?!"
attempting to stay out of the sun
even the Diet Coke is designer in Dubai
winter wonderland
surprise! it's your birthday!
yes, I'm a grown woman...why do you ask?
sunrise at the Burj Khalifa
on top of the world
love these ladies
and then...the hard goodbyes
2 comments:
What? No picture of the bruise?
A fine description, indeed. 2.5 days is plenty, thoughI missed out on the water park and the rooftop sunrise from the Burj Khalifa. But let me ask you this, did you get to meet Santa's Elv?
http://bit.ly/Z5g7g8
I thought not. So fun following your travels. You're living the life!!!!
Post a Comment