About Abu Dhabi



Reflecting pool at Sheikh Zayed Mosque

I would like to tell you all about Abu Dhabi, but the problem is that our guide was curiously uninformed about Abu Dhabi.  Knowing what I do now, there is a lot I would do differently about booking anything in the UAE, but then that’s part of the reason for travel and the good news is that makes it tax deductible.  We had a private tour booked and the driver/guide turned out to be the same guide we had had for the Dubai tour.  I think he possibly asked the tour agency to let him escort us after learning about our plans the day before.  He was born in Dubai, but is a citizen of Pakistan, his parents having immigrated here before his birth.  Only descendants of the native Arab tribes are entitled to citizenship in the UAE in spite of their place of birth. 

We headed out early and, after about a 2-hour drive, arrived at the incredibly beautiful Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.  Sheikh Zayed is the founding father of Abu Dhabi.  Construction on the mosque began on 5 November 1996. The maximum capacity is approximately 41,000 people and the overall structure is 22,412 square meters; the internal prayer halls were initially opened in December 2007.  Seeing the mosque was almost worth the whole trip.  It is a magnificent structure of white marble with decorative mother-of-pearl inlays, bas-relief decorations, crystal chandeliers, tightly woven Arabian carpet, and gold-leaf topped columns grabbing your eye whichever way you turned.  I’ve never seen the Taj Mahal, but this structure must rival it.  The overall feeling of the mosque is one of peace and harmony, making a statement 180° from the Islam presented to the world by radical fundamentalists.  Unfortunately, photos can't really capture it, but I feel privileged to have seen it. 

 

After leaving the Mosque, our guide drove us around Abu Dhabi without any more stops.  It was all rather bizarre as I got the definite feeling that at times he wasn’t exactly sure where he was going.  At one point we passed some market stalls full of carpets where I would’ve loved to have stopped, but we kept going.  Dwight and I were still somewhat jet lagged, so we didn’t protest the drive.  The only other place we stopped for a brief moment was to watch a super fast roller coaster.  I guess he thought that would amuse us.  It’s a beautiful city.  Unlike Dubai it has parks with greenery, tree-lined parkways, well-spaced skyscrapers, and splendid villas.  We had our guide drop us off in the Marina area of Dubai for another delicious Lebanese Mezzah lunch and a nice (hot) walk down the corniche.  Looking forward to boarding the Azamara Quest tomorrow and seeing Dubai from the sea.