11/3/07 FIRST MOM BLOG: So much has happened so quickly, it’s hard to know where to begin. First of all, for all of you asking about the venerable Clifford, the kids have taken over his retirement care. He is now in Raleigh with G., where he celebrated Halloween, and it is my understanding PWDT is picking him up to go to J and M’s this weekend. We are very pleased and grateful they are willing to take him over. It was difficult to say goodbye to him, but I’m betting we’ll see him over the holidays sometime.
Our apartment is in “suburban” Sharjah, which is the next emirate up from Dubai. It’s really like one continuous area. When there’s no traffic, which is almost never, we’re only about 20 minutes away from downtown Dubai and 10 minutes from downtown Sharjah. Sharjah has a beautiful downtown. It’s much more conservative, which means among other things it’s dry, and you see very few westerners here. I was brave and took a taxi into Sharjah to get my nails done today and had a real jerk of an Iranian cab driver who didn’t know where anything was. However, I found a good salon in more or less the high-end area of Sharjah and the day ended well. We had dinner on a dhow, little old boats, on the lake the other night in Sharjah, which was enjoyable.
They have gold and textile and spice souks, bazaars, here that are actually nicer, less crowded, and less expensive than Dubai, but the old souks in Dubai are still something to see.
Dubai, if course, is beautiful. Every building tries to outdo the previous one. They are building the Burj Dubai to be the tallest building in the world, and if someone builds a taller building, they have designed this one so it can be added onto. I did manage to get on one of those city and beach bus tours, which gave me a great overview of the city.
Shopping seems to be the national sport here. There are large malls everywhere, and some of them are absolutely gorgeous. The bad news is traffic on “weekends,“ which are Thursday and Friday, is like Christmas in the U.S. every weekend . We went to the Festival Mall yesterday, which is built on Dubai Creek with a canal running through it. It was kind of like being on Rodeo Drive. Haven’t been to Emirates Mall yet where they have the indoor snow skiing.
As for our apartment, it’s an adjustment. The area is full of construction, and again we are among the very few westerners. It’s not exactly the high-rent district, but it seems to be safe, and the apartment is new. I’m pretty uncomfortable taking a power walk around the neighborhood in shorts, as there are very few women out during the day and none in athletic gear. I’ll get it figured out, though. It’s pretty much a live and let live attitude around here, so I’ve just got to get over being uncomfortable.
The apartment itself is smaller than our first apartment when we got married, so we’re learning to “share” space all over again. It’s nice enough, but I could live without the gas container for the stove, for which you have to match-light the burners and the oven, in the middle of the kitchen. There’s no dishwasher, a tiny sink, and no clothes dryer. Aside from that, it’s great! The clothes dryer is the rack on the balcony.
All of the pilots are here, so the situation very much reminds me of our old Navy days. The apartments may be small, but we do more entertaining now than we’ve done for a long time.
Bob has been working very hard, and I personally think the airline is still looking for its direction, but they all have very handsome new uniforms, and the first flight, which will be a fam flight for all the pilots and flight attendants, is tomorrow to Kabul. I have been invited to join the group, so still more adventure! It should be interesting, and I understand this could be a good place to purchase oriental rugs. I will follow this up with the female impression of Kabul when we get back. Now I have to go pack.
We miss all of our family and friends and look forward to seeing everyone when we get back hopefully sometime over the holidays. I know we will appreciate Marietta, the lake, and the beach much more.
More to follow after Kabul.
Our apartment is in “suburban” Sharjah, which is the next emirate up from Dubai. It’s really like one continuous area. When there’s no traffic, which is almost never, we’re only about 20 minutes away from downtown Dubai and 10 minutes from downtown Sharjah. Sharjah has a beautiful downtown. It’s much more conservative, which means among other things it’s dry, and you see very few westerners here. I was brave and took a taxi into Sharjah to get my nails done today and had a real jerk of an Iranian cab driver who didn’t know where anything was. However, I found a good salon in more or less the high-end area of Sharjah and the day ended well. We had dinner on a dhow, little old boats, on the lake the other night in Sharjah, which was enjoyable.
They have gold and textile and spice souks, bazaars, here that are actually nicer, less crowded, and less expensive than Dubai, but the old souks in Dubai are still something to see.
Dubai, if course, is beautiful. Every building tries to outdo the previous one. They are building the Burj Dubai to be the tallest building in the world, and if someone builds a taller building, they have designed this one so it can be added onto. I did manage to get on one of those city and beach bus tours, which gave me a great overview of the city.
Shopping seems to be the national sport here. There are large malls everywhere, and some of them are absolutely gorgeous. The bad news is traffic on “weekends,“ which are Thursday and Friday, is like Christmas in the U.S. every weekend . We went to the Festival Mall yesterday, which is built on Dubai Creek with a canal running through it. It was kind of like being on Rodeo Drive. Haven’t been to Emirates Mall yet where they have the indoor snow skiing.
As for our apartment, it’s an adjustment. The area is full of construction, and again we are among the very few westerners. It’s not exactly the high-rent district, but it seems to be safe, and the apartment is new. I’m pretty uncomfortable taking a power walk around the neighborhood in shorts, as there are very few women out during the day and none in athletic gear. I’ll get it figured out, though. It’s pretty much a live and let live attitude around here, so I’ve just got to get over being uncomfortable.
The apartment itself is smaller than our first apartment when we got married, so we’re learning to “share” space all over again. It’s nice enough, but I could live without the gas container for the stove, for which you have to match-light the burners and the oven, in the middle of the kitchen. There’s no dishwasher, a tiny sink, and no clothes dryer. Aside from that, it’s great! The clothes dryer is the rack on the balcony.
All of the pilots are here, so the situation very much reminds me of our old Navy days. The apartments may be small, but we do more entertaining now than we’ve done for a long time.
Bob has been working very hard, and I personally think the airline is still looking for its direction, but they all have very handsome new uniforms, and the first flight, which will be a fam flight for all the pilots and flight attendants, is tomorrow to Kabul. I have been invited to join the group, so still more adventure! It should be interesting, and I understand this could be a good place to purchase oriental rugs. I will follow this up with the female impression of Kabul when we get back. Now I have to go pack.
We miss all of our family and friends and look forward to seeing everyone when we get back hopefully sometime over the holidays. I know we will appreciate Marietta, the lake, and the beach much more.
More to follow after Kabul.
7 comments:
Hello
see you soon
Judith does not want to leave Singapore...You and A may have to come here for at least 6 days
AWESOME
see u soon
N
Great info A
sounds like you have all the malls covered
will J need a Burka to jog/walk ?
Call you from Delhi
What a trip 1/2 way around the world and on the way home
Love N
I love the picture!
Just a note to say hi and let you know H came home from the hospital Thursday. Parents are now totally sleep-deprived but loving every minute.
K
I can't believe there's finally a picture!!
Loved "Initial Woman's View."
Sounds like you are adjusting well and you are going to have so many stories to tell us about that part of the world. Hope all went well on your flight to Kabul. What an adventure.
Glad Clifford is enjoying his retirement and hopefully you got the pictures I took at the lake before you left.
Just returned from FL after 2 1/2 weeks.
Keep writing both of you.
Sounds like the adventure has really begun. Unless I'm mistaken the first paying route should have already occurred. Have fun! G
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