Day 1* -
San Francisco, California, to Dubai - November 2005
Dubai
in the United
Arab Emirates has become a major
world destination hub currently serving over five million travelers a
year. We were going to Saudi Arabia, and this place seemed appealing as a
stopover, especially since it offered the best priced airfares we were able to
find. It is a great introduction to the Arab World and as a free port, hosts
active trade with many participating nationalities while still proudly
preserving its own heritage.
*Day
1 in the Middle East, that is, as we left SFO on Monday the 7th but with the
long flight time and 12 hours time difference we arrive Dubai at night of the
8th - so our Day 1 is actually Wed., 9 Nov.
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| The obligatory photo of
the craft that would take us to the other side of the planet. A cool drizzly
day for departure at SFO. |
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| 2 |
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| On looking outside our
hotel after awaking to the exotic morning call to prayer - an entrance to
the gold souk... |
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| 3 |
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| Just one of hundreds of
window displays of the lattice covered Deira Gold Souk. |
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| It is early in the day
and Keith stands where later there will be crowds of shoppers. |
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| 5 |
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| Always fond of water, Peg
marvels at the size of Dubai Creek which bisects the city. |
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| 6 |
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| Keith also pauses to gaze
at the creek and gets a sense of the city. |
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| Two dhows (traditional
shipping vessels still contributing to the economy) ply their way upstream. |
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| We take the first of
several rides across the creek on the public Abra: sturdy, serviceable, open
boat taxis. |
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| A vessel flying the flag
of UAE (United Arab Emirates). Dubai is second largest of the
seven states. |
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| 10 |
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| On the Abras, a
delightful system which accommodates city workers and tourists alike for
mere pennies. |
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| 11 |
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| Entering the textile souk
on the Bur Dubai side of the Creek. We enjoyed walking the labyrinth. |
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| 12 |
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| Peg pauses at another
corner of the textile souk. |
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| 13 |
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| A display in delightful
Dubai Museum, housed in Al-Fahidi Fort, perhaps Dubai's oldest building. |
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| 14 |
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| This is an old boat
displayed outside the fort/museum - a must visit for anyone interested in
Dubai's history |
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| 15 |
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| Lunch at Basta Art
Cafe. Popular in guide books and frequented by tourists (with guide
books in hand.) |
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| 16 |
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| An example of turn of
century Bastakia (Persian) preservation area. Fine lines and shadows
play. |
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| Traditional wind towers
(at the end of this narrow shaded walkway) funneled cool air into the
buildings. |
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| 18 |
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| This interior courtyard
was peaceful and relaxing in the warm afternoon. Good restoration work is
happening. |
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| 19 |
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| Glass on Deira buildings
reflects the setting sun in the Dubai Creek as seen from Bur Dubai side. |
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| 20 |
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| Obviously a bustling,
modern city and growing in many directions. |
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| 21 |
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| End of the work day
commuter rush on Dubai Creek abras. |
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