Day 5
We have
been to Dubai before so on this trip we were not particularly concerned to rush
around and see everything, but its a city growing exponentially, so there are
always new things to see. Yesterday’s journey to Oman took a lot out of us so
we were very happy to sleep in. It also kept us out of Britt’s and Wil’s way as
they prepared for work.
When we
eventually did get up there was a message from Ginny asking for some pix of the
archeological site just down the road, so we combined that task with walking
the doggies. The girls were happy to walk with me and Dad took charge of Eddie.
On our return we planned on a walk into the heart of the city via the canal
promenade when we got back, but the slow start to the day meant that the day had
already gathered a fair bit of heat. We walked across the twisty bridge. It had
air-conditioned lifts on either side and I was tempted to keep going up and
down just for an opportunity to enjoy the cool. From the top we could see how
close Safa Park was and so we headed along the promenade in that direction. Unfortunately,
more development around the park had cut access and so we were compelled to
stick to the promenade. They really know how to do things well in this city. The
promenade was beautiful and with wheelchair access, cameras, lighting and USB
charging points along its complete length. Eventually water taxis and ferries
will service the apartment blocks and downstairs retail premises planned to
fringe the canal. Britt and Wil’s house will be a very short distance away from
all this so they will have all the convenience but none of the congestion. Over
the top of the canal there were several pedestrian bridges, each well designed
and individual. The walk into the wind and the heat eventually took their toll
on us and we revised our plans. We had also dropped a lense cover so we decided
to backtrack and take a different route. The lens cap was not found despite a
thorough search but it was no drama. We will just have to be v careful with
storing the camera.
Despite the
heat we had to go out again to get some lunch supplies and to restock the
larder. We had made quite a dent in the supplies at home. We noticed there was
a Waitrose up on the main stretch but to stop people being killed by jaywalking
across a very busy road, the authorities had constructed a metal fence all the
way along the central median strip. This forced us to walk a long way down the
highway before we could find a crossing point and then take a route back to the
supermarket. With the traffic coming at us from the opposite direction to the
one I’m used to, the whole thing felt like Russian Roulette. It was with
enormous relief to finally get into Waitrose and find it suitably chilled by
the AC. As always, i was completely seduced by the supermarket offerings and we
bought lots. Of course we had to now struggle back in the heat with 5 heavy
bags. We had a light-bulb moment and instead of going ack the same way, walked
as far as we could through the cool of the shopping centre, and then overland
to an underpass near twisty bridge and back up to Britt’s house.
The
afternoon was all about resting until we attempted a late afternoon walk again
with the doggies. We thought if we took them out, Britt and Wil could just
relax when they got home. The girls were boh keen and cooperative, but Eddie
was not into it. After a block, Johnny threw in the towel and carried him home
before catching up to us. The evening, when the iron heat of the day has
subsided, and the full white moon is rising into the sky, it really is the best
time for a walk.
Britt had
had a fraught day at work. There was lots to catch up with after her 2 day
holiday with us and the staff and suppliers associated with the big event
planned for Monday, needed a lot of redirecting. Needless to say, that with
Britt cracking the whip, it was all done and eventually done properly, but she
came home late and exhausted. We all agreed to shelve the idea of the home BBQ
and go back to the local restaurant we’d all enjoyed so much last week. It was
another great meal there.
We all hit
the sack quite early on our return home as Monday was expected to be a very big
work day for both Britt and Wil. And of course, both dad and I were dead on our
feet.
