Abu Dhabi: Day 2

Abu Dhabi: the city of glass that needs to hire some window cleaners. 

Staying in downtown Abu Dhabi, you'd be quite likely to think that here is a place where they build skyscrapers and then promptly abandon them for the "next new thing". Walking around our area on our first day we saw plenty of buildings that looked abandoned, or were advertising rooms to let, a bit like walking down the main street of a country town where every 5th or 6th shop is closed. But today we ventured further afield and found there are indeed many well kept skyscrapers. 

The Qasr Al Watan

The lady, who knew where we were from even without hearing us speak,
and gave us "a gift from the UAE"

Boys are boys everywhere

For our young skipper...

 This morning we took a taxi to the magnificent Qasr Al Watan, the Palace of the United Arab Emiriates. It is a feast for the eyes! The chandeliers! The artistry! It was amazing. We giggled at the school girls in their abayas, opening them up to show their clothes underneath and taking off their hijab as soon as the teacher was out of sight, kids don't change. We were impressed by how well they government take care of their workers. With plenty of guards and people to direct the crowds, and even those who had to be outside had their own air conditioner. 

Chandeliers!!!

 The palace itself tells the story of the UAE in glowing terms and here we remember that when we write our own history we tend to put it in the best of terms. None the less, it was all very interesting to read about, and see their library (although we think they need more books). 

Christian wants to add the small catechism to the Library

On the way in from the airport on Tuesday night we saw the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque lit up. Now we took the opportunity to see it on our final afternoon. Entering via a walkway through an underground shopping mall filled with visitors. McDonalds, Burger King, Starbucks (a meeting point for many Americans who get lost or separated from their group!) Also gift shops mainly for souvenirs, clothing, delicacies, espscially camel chocolate. Through security, metal detectors and a man and woman checking your appropriately dressed. Then through the tunnel and out around the grounds of the mosque. 

Chandeliers at the mosque

The mosque has a massive tiled court, lots of vantage points to take photos, visitors follow a well marked route to marvel at the ornate tiling, carpets, stained glass windos, and chandeliers. Chandeliers to outdo the last chandelier. The tourists snap away with their phones all the time. You notice how many are dressed, or not dressed appropriately according to the guidelines. I'd had hate
to be a mosque attendant having to police the attire of tourists. 

The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

The "pulpit" for the imam is called the Minbar. I (Christian) first thought the sign explaining what it was said "minibar". Maybe if it were more of our pastors would use our pulpits! Oh well. 

Everywhere inside is very well airconditioned, and as it was dusk, going outside wasn't too bad as there was a coolish breeze...for Christian, who was wearing long loose sleeves, but not me because I had to wear a black skivvy, and a top over that that was loose and covered my bottom with a skirt and long black pants. Clothes suited for our time in the UK, but not for our time in the United Arab Emirates.

People here are "nocturnal" as Christian's doctor friend tells us, and well they are, because the days are scorching and humid. So hot that even the ATM has an air conditioner! So much for trying to be green with power use!