Exciting day. We were flying to Britt in Dubai later in the day. We planned to go to Copenhagen Lab nearby for lunch for breakfast and to get Brit some of that muesli she liked. It went like clockwork until they said they didn't have any. Johnny the navigator was on it. It would mean a forced march of just over a kilometre to the next Lab near the waterfront. Google Maps coped better with the laneways today and while Johnny led, I had a video call with Ginny and Charlie. We had a big breakfast, bought the goods and had a slow walk back. The bags were packed and Johnny had booked hotel transport to the airport so there was no rush.
We waited downstairs at the desk for ages and no transport arrived. Johnny spoke to the desk and they called a taxi. The only refunded some of the money paid to them so a letter of complaint will follow. Lisbon airport was choked. Even though we had already checked in online there was a huge wait at the counter. They could take a page out of the Dubai book on how to efficiently run an airport. Still it did give us an opportunity to read all the strange motivational and self advertising messages around the airport and wonder how much they might pay an ex English teacher to rewrite them so they made sense.
Finally through check in, passport control etc, we only had an hour to wait in a crowded food hall before another long walk to gate 46. Of course there were interesting aircraft along the way and of course Johnny stopped to take photos.
The flight was painless and we both got about an hour's sleep. Landing in Dubai after a massive tailwind thrust us across the earth, was like getting on a magic carpet ride. In Dubai airport, all signage made sense. There were helpful people directing. There were enough staff on hand to ensure there were no long lines. No the luggage wasn't lost (hear that Qantas?) and it appeared just as we arrived at the carousel. Britt had sent us personalised instructions that let us miss any crowds at the exit and we turned right where everyone else turned left. Through an emergency exit door next to Chauffer pick up and there was young Britt on the other side of the door.
We were whipped off in a large and comfortable Subaru and delivered home within an hour of landing. It was about 2am and we felt sorry for Britt who would have to get up and put in a full day's work tomorrow, but she wouldn't hear of us getting a taxi.
We were met at the door by a sleepy but welcoming Bella and Eddie. Molly went mad, jumping up at us and wagging her tail it to take off. Britty had prepared a huge room for us and the aircon was going when we arrived. A quick cup of tea and a shower and off to sleep.
We woke refreshed, despite the night time visitors. First Molly pushed open the bedroom door and tried to get into my suitcase before deciding the bed was the better option. Then huge Eddie came in and took over from Molly.
The house looked magnificent. It wore new colours, compliments of Britty and her brush. Teaching her how to paint all those years ago was such a good idea. There was what looked like a full gym in the upstairs room, with a treadmill the size of the mini we were driving a few days ago. The new bathrooms with their simple, clean lines, looked fantastic. The garden had really taken off with an explosion of bougainvillea colour covering the gate entrance and oleander going great guns around the perimeter of the garden. We could see new building going on over the high perimeter fence. A hotel and luxury apartments had gone up between the house and the river at the end of the street. In Dubai, you blink and something else is built.
The order arrived. flowers, groceries, fruit. Larder was replenished. We had a spot of lunch and went out for a short walk to get reacquainted with the area. We walked down to the creek and had a close up look of the new apartments and the hotel on either side of the Tolerance Bridge. Big, wide balconies, great views, poised over the water and surrounded by an instant garden in the form of extensive plantings of mature trees, they looked worth every part of for million dirhams plus. Apparently the 4 Seasons apartments had already been pre-sold. On the far bank of the creek several more developments had begun and the pile drivers were working overtime. This city has a rapacious appetite for development.
We walked as far as Wasl Road and up to the string of shops built in the style of Singapore's Raffles Hotel. Oh if only we had something like this at Barkly Square. We crossed the road up near the container cinemas and came back along the clinics and restaurants that line the street. It was a hot walk but utterly wonderful seeing everything again. There were huge new developments all the way along. How can Dubai build such beautiful things so quickly?
While we waited for Britt to come home, we took a dip in the pool. It had a lot of work done on it since last visit and with the temperature nudging 30, it looked very welcoming. By the time we got in it was after 6 and the sinking sun was burnishing the neighbouring houses with a coppery gold. The sky was cloudless and the moon hung brightly behind the palms that were faintly stirring in the breeze. From pool side we could see the Burge Kalifa twinkling with its evening lights.
At 7 we could hear the call to prayers from the nearby mosque. I quite like the idea of pausing throughout the day to thank the universe for all the wonderful things that come our way and asking the universe for the strength and wisdom to face the challenges that in equal measure, come our way
Dinner was at Eva's, a Lebanese Syrian restaurant a short walk from the house on Wasl Road. We walked there on a gloriously warm night past the archaeological area and then up the back streets. With the darkness having fallen and the lights on in the homes we passed, it was possible to see past those imposing and sometimes forbidding barrier fences, into the houses. The guys were right. The food at Eva's was fantastic. There was courtyard seating and there were many family and friend groups there. We had middle eastern dips, falafel, two salads and a huge platter of mixed meat and seafood. It was just a beautiful night. Yes we finished it all, except for a couple of pieces of falafel, which Britt took home for the doggoes.
The plan was to get up at 7 tomorrow to take the doggoes for a walk before the day heated up, so by 9.30 it was well and truly bed time.
PS good news from Fedex. my cards were on their way.
