Mall Visits on Thanksgiving

Today is a down day - we have been on the move for several days and need a slower pace.  In the morning Aimee, Faith and I drove down to Mall of the Emirates so they could see the famous Ski Dubai complex.  There were dozens of people getting their gear to ski, sled, go down the luge run....lots of activity!

I didn't even take any pictures as I already had so many but it is an amazing operation.

November 3rd the UAE celebrated Flag Day and on December 2nd they will celebrate National Day so they leave the decorations up for the month.  It's their 45th anniversary this year.  The British turned the country over in 1971 after being a protectorate since 1894.

 

 

We also stopped by the Apple Store which opened last year when we were here.  There is no advertising on the front of the store.  Inside it is simple and has straight lines and no real decorations - just Apple products on the tables.  The store is at least 4 times the size of our store in Milwaukee - which is always jammed, noisy and crowded.

 

 

When we got back to the house we all went to the Mirdif  City Center.  We had lunch in the food court.  Each one got what they wanted....

 

We checked out the Magic Planet...a play center in the mall with rides, games, fun things for kids....for a price.

 

We found the Lego store, a fun store for young teens, and ended up in the grocery store - just checking stuff out and buying a few things to take home.

Not a typical Thanksgiving Day...no football, or church service, but there was a wonderful meal in the making at the house.

At 6:00 about 30 people from 9 different countries came together for an American meal.  Turkey. Mashed potatoes.  Roasted potatoes.  Sweet Potatoes. Green beans. Carrots.  Salad. Pecan pie. Pumpkin pie.  Ice cream.  The whole enchilada!  It was great!

Gary shared a bit about how the tradition started,  Avery read a paper she had written about Thanksgiving, each person had an opportunity to share what they were thankful for...everyone was included and involved.  Very nice. Thanks much to Julie, Thelma, and Andree.

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Andy and I so enjoyed eating with a young couple and their 2 children we had met last year.  Really fun to hear about their year and how they are adjusting to life in Dubai.

I also got to see several women I walked with on Monday nights last year.  Really nice to catch up!  And I hope to walk with them again this year.  They are a fun group and truly care about one another.

All in all a different but meaningful Thanksgiving!

        Very grateful! 

Atlantis Aquadventure Park

Another beautiful day in Dubai.  I often think of the first time we came to Dubai - in May, June, July.  We were hot and sweaty the entire time with temperatures in the 110 to 120 degree range.  Now in November, December, January we are going to enjoy the 70s and 80s...much better!

 

Today the Marx family enjoyed the huge fun water park at Atlantis.  It wasn't very crowded and in the morning they went from slide to slide with little or no line.  The most they waited in the afternoon was 10 minutes...so they were able to try pretty much every one.  

Couldn't get any pictures of the kids and grandkids - there are no opportunities to observe the park unless you pay the $70 + entrance fee.  Bummer!

 

 

On the Persian Gulf

 

 

Andy and I spent the day down there, too, but didn't do the water park.  I enjoyed walking the entire crescent of the Palm Jumeriah.  A brand new boardwalk just opened a couple  of days ago.  It's 11 km and very nicely done.  

Along the crescent are many beautiful high end hotels and resorts.  More residential condos and apartments are also going in.  Some day it will be filled in solid, I'm sure. 

 

It's a wide variety of styles and colors... 

 

 

This one is just being built - the gold on the sign glitters in the sun...looks pretty glitzy.

 

 

There are all kinds of water events going on...boating, sailing, parasailing, jet skiing, water skiing...and sky diving.  Fun to watch.  Hard to get pics because they are pretty far out over the water.

 

 

 This is the Atlantis from across the bay as I was walking over a bridge...

Surprisingly, food trucks are now popping up along the boardwalk as well.   Each one has 5 or 6 tables with umbrellas.  They seemed to be doing a brisk business.

Right now there are just a couple of hamburger type restaurants inside the hotel area open to the public, so the food trucks will offer some variety.

 

One article I read said eventually the food trucks will line the length of the boardwalk.

 

 

We needed some cold water to drink with our picnic lunch...

 

Beautiful pots were set every few feet for the grand opening....will be a job keeping them watered every day!

 

Several places along the boardwalk there were bikes for rent.  The publicity says that priority on the boardwalk will be walkers. 

 

 

The Atlantis offers great photo opps..

Once again the only downer of the day was the horrible traffic getting to the 311.  It took us 45 minutes to get down there this morning, and 1 1/2 hours to get home at 5:30.

Fabulous Evening Enjoying Dinner at Dubai Mall

 

We enjoyed a fabulous dinner outside overlooking the beautiful Burj Khalifa and Khalifa Lake.  It was a South African restaurant called TRIBES Carnivores on the 2nd level at the mall.  

That's Ryan hiding behind the water bottle....he is so funny.  All night he was singing Sherry by the Four Seasons back in the 60's but he says Cherry instead of Sherry. 

 

The food was very good and the staff was so nice and so friendly - all from Africa.

 

 

A new addition to the Dancing Fountains is a light show on the Burj...stunning.

We managed to extend our dinner to 2 hours to watch the fountains and lights.  Great fun!!

A wonderful evening indeed!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

An entire day at Dubai Mall

 

First stop at the Dubai Mall was the very large (10 million liters) aquarium!  They have a wonderful collection and it's great fun to watch all the activity.

 

 

Right across the walkway is the worlds largest candy store - they love to be the biggest and best here!

Avery's favorite...

 

Ryan found his favorite as well...

 

 It necessarily Faith's favorite - it's just where I found her...under the sucker tree - no pun intended!!

From there it was on to the very upscale Souq in the mall - much of it is high end jewelry but they also have a very huge dinosaur from Wyoming on display there...so big I couldn't get a picture.

After a snack in the food court the Marx Family went on the tour TO THE TOP...it goes to the 124th and 125th floors of the Burj Khalifa.  It's a quick trip up in just one minute!  Great views from the top.

The beautiful waterfall in the mall...where we sat for a while to rest mid afternoon.

 

  

 

While the adults rested a bit longer Oma and the kids were off to the big Hamleys toy store for some fun..