We got up very early, had breakfast and then went to the
theatre to await our tour of Abu Dhabi.
While I’m feeling a little bit better, I feel that my head is “full of
it” – so much pressure. But off we went.
The guide loaded us up on a large bus and we headed to the
large Abu Dhabi Mosque named for one of the Sheiks’. He paid $1 billion to have
it built. It is the 8th
largest mosque in the world. I think our
guide told us that Mecca was the largest and Medinah was the second
largest. I think the mosque I visited in
Casablanca is the 5th largest.
The mosque was incredible – huge, well maintained, beautiful stonework
and the largest handmade carpet in the world – made in Iran and cut into pieces
to be shipped to Abu Dhabi. We visited
throughout and the wash areas where they cleanse their bodies before they go in
to pray.
The beautiful Abu Dhabi Mosque
Beautiful tall minarets
Fountains and arches
The floor was polished so brightly that it looked wet
Main entrance to the mosque
Beautiful architecture
Dramatic arches
Beautiful tile work
The main plaza at the Abu Dhabi Mosque
Fantastic tile work
Beautiful floors
Beautiful ceiling, walls, and chandeliers - gold all over
Dramatic cupola and chandelier
An interesting clock
The largest Persian carpet in the world
Beautiful colors and design
Main chandelier in the mosque
The washing area for men - they must wash before entering the mosque to pray
We left the mosque and drove around several of the various
islands of Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi Island
is the largest and is where Abu Dhabi City is located. The Presidential Palace and Emirates Palace
is here too. We made several photo stops
during our drive around the city. Abu
Dhabi has so much construction going on.
It seems like that is the case everywhere in the UAE.
The skyline of Abu Dhabi - tall high-rises but not as many as Dubai
The tallest buildings in Abu Dhabi
Construction all over - the Presidential Palace in the middle
The Presidential Palace
The "biggest and best" of everything in Abu Dhabi - so they say!
Large billboards with the king's picture
Construction area where they are building a Louvre Museum in Abu Dhabi
Our guide explained to us that in 2008, Dubai was in crisis, so the Sheik Kalifa gave $20 billion to Dubai and they renamed the Burj Dubai the Burj Kalifa. It is said that Abu Dhabi is one of the richest places in the world.
Our last stop was a museum that shows how the new Abu Dhabi
Louvre Museum and the new Abu Dhabi Museum will be set up. They will open in 2015-2017. We then headed back to the ship and had a
quick lunch upstairs near the pool deck.
After that I went to the spa and used the dry sauna to see if that would
help dry up my head. Seemed to work! But it zapped me so I napped after that.
We set sail among many oil tankers - they were everywhere!
Tim went to the Captain’s reception and I met him after for drinks in one of the clubs. We went to the dining room about 7:45 for dinner and waited about 15 minutes for a table for two. Dinner was good.
We ended the evening in the theatre where the staff did a
“Broadway Review”. They did an excellent
job and there was some great talent.
Then it was off to bed. We get in
to Fajairah at 10 am so we can sleep in tomorrow morning.
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