Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi was our third Emirate and it is the largest and richest of the seven. They have the most oil, but they have also developed commerce and tourism like Dubai. One gets the impression there is considerable competition between Dubai and Abu Dhabi!

What everyone in the group will surely remember the most vividly about Abu Dhabi is the grand mosque! Wow! It is the third largest in the world, after Mecca and Medina, and certainly vies for being the most spectactular. The Taj Mahal in India pales in comparison. It is built entirely of white marble with beautiful inlay work. Thick carpets cover the floor. Here the women were all given black abayas to wear during the visit so they were completely covered. Our ladies look quite good in black! Inside the great hall was the largest chandelier in the world as well as dozens of others. They had a special agreement with Svarovski Crystal to build them.

From the mosque we drove through an area of elaborate palaces of the various sheiks, as well as past the president's palace. We had a photo stop for the Emirates Palace Hotel (see Laurel's description). It is Abu Dhabi's answer to Dubai's Burj al Arab and Muscat's Al Bustan Palace Hotel. We visited Heritage Village where we could shop for local handicrafts and native dress as well as see them demonstrate the various handicrafts. It also gave us a nice view of the Abu Dhabi Skyline.

We finished up with a visit to the date market near the port and got to sample all kinds of dates. I could make a whole meal of that!

After the tour Kermit, Twila and I decided to take a taxi to the Marina Mall and went out on the road to hail a taxi. There weren't many around, but presently a local fellow stopped and told us we wouldn't get a ride there, so he took us into town himself. Just another of MANY examples of the fantastic Arab hospitality.