![\"\"](\"http:\/\/gordonandjudy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Screen-Shot-2018-11-26-at-10.45.26-PM.jpg\")
<\/a>Abu Dhabi in the 60’s.<\/p>\nFirst stop is the Corniche (beach front) in Abu Dhabi.\u00a0 We walk around the area, admiring the cleanliness and the views of the downtown skyline.\u00a0 There is polished marble everywhere.\u00a0 Then we make a long walk to the Heritage Village, a museum displaying the traditional desert living.\u00a0 As we walk we learn more about Abu Dhabi and its ruling family, as well as all of the other UAE states (Dubai, etc.)<\/p>\n
After the museum, we drive to the Emirates Palace Hotel.\u00a0 It\u2019s the same place we ate Saturday night after the mosque.\u00a0 We got more of a tour today.\u00a0 Faheem worked here in Hospitality for eight months, before becoming a guide.\u00a0 We were especially curious to try the 23k gold leaf (real gold they say) topping for ice cream and gold flakes for cappuccino.\u00a0 It\u2019s fun!\u00a0 While we sit in the \u201ccoffee shop\u201d, we do a lot people-watching, checking out all the Emeratis dressed in their traditional attire.<\/p>\n After the hotel, we cruised down the main road for a daytime look at the Grand Mosque.\u00a0 No need to go inside, since we had a good visit Saturday night.\u00a0 Next stop was the Louvre Museum \u2013 Abu Dhabi.\u00a0 They are associated with the Louvre in Paris, and the city is also building a Guggenheim \u201cfranchise.\u201d\u00a0 Unfortunately, they\u2019re not open on Mondays.<\/p>\n Our last stop is \u201cFerrari World\u201d on Yas Island.\u00a0 It\u2019s a huge indoor amusement park, connected to an even bigger mall, next door to the Yas Island Formula One Race Track.\u00a0 We ate Indian food in the mall fast food court for a late lunch before entering the park.<\/p>\n The park has the world\u2019s fastest rollercoaster.\u00a0 They\u2019re not kidding, 230 kilometers per hour in 5 seconds at the start.\u00a0 Without goggles, it would peel your eyelids back.\u00a0There are a few more rollercoasters and some 3-D rides, all well done.\u00a0 Mostly, the park is a big commercial for Ferrari and Italy.\u00a0 Around every corner are cars on display, and a couple of the rides simulated driving a Ferrari.\u00a0 Also, for 800 dirham ($270 USD), I could drive a Ferrari around the racetrack for a half hour.\u00a0 Not today.\u00a0I\u2019m saving my money for more of that 23k gold topping.\u00a0 The entire park is built indoors.\u00a0 It\u2019s quite impressive (and comfortably cool).\u00a0 No sweating it out in hot lines here.<\/p>\n After Ferrari World, we begin the drive to our Dubai hotel, Atana.\u00a0 The highway is 14 lanes, so traffic isn\u2019t a problem.\u00a0 We arrive at our hotel around 7:30pm.\u00a0 We\u2019re surrounded by lots of tall buildings.\u00a0 I\u2019m anxious to see tomorrow, if Dubai can match the opulence we experienced in Abu Dhabi.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" It\u2019s sad as we leave the ship today.\u00a0 It\u2019s been comfortable, and you know what you\u2019re getting with a cruise.\u00a0 There are no guarantees with our tours beginning today thru India.\u00a0 Interesting times ahead. Off the boat at our assigned … Continue reading <\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>Lamborghini and a Rolls in the background as we walk into the hotel<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>Yum!<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>Grand Mosque in the daylight<\/p>\n<\/a>Abu Dhabi Louvre<\/p>\n<\/a> <\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n