End of a journey, Dubai then the green green grass of home!

After our little foray into Athens and the Greek Islands, it is time to fly to Dubai for a few days, to have our desert adventure, city tour and to celebrate another birthday. Birthdays do seem to be coming a lot quicker these days. The flight from Athens to Dubai took 4 hours, we arrived late evening, checked into our hotel and was ready after a good nights sleep for the next day to sightsee. You can imagine how delighted I was to find a 24 hour department store, within walking distance of our hotel. First task, shopping to get some gifts for the family, managed to do a little shopping whilst travelling, but also mindful of what we had to lug around for 6 weeks.

My first purchase a camel, I know a souvenir, but what the heck if you cannot buy fabric you may as well get something useless!.

Shopping is not DH favourite time, but as I was on a mission, what could he do......but follow.

In the afternoon was our desert safari, apparently, this is a popular tourist attraction. we were picked up at 4 pm, did I. Mention that it was 40 degrees plus.

Proceeded to drive out to the desert and do burn outs on the sand dunes, not sure who's idea this was, but here goes, not for the faint hearted or if you have a back injury. First stop was a pith stop ( loo break) and to let air out of the tyres, before driving over the sand 

All the 4 wheel drives involved in the sand duning.

Sunset in the desert, did I mention the heat!!! Now cooling to 38 degrees!

After the sand dunes were shattered, we were then ferried to our dinner in a Bedouin.

On offer were camel rides, quad bikes and henna tattoos.

As my back was slightly tender after the sand duning, I declined the camel and quad bike ride.

Of course always up for a henna tattoo, DH also got one surprise, surprise !!

During dinner we were also entertained by a belly dancer and a Tamuoro dancer.

We were picked up the next morning for our city tour. First stop was Dubai Creek and the ever expanding skyline of downtown Dubai. Al Seef marina.

On this tour we also had the opportunity to visit the Dubai museum, located in an old fort, this museum depicted the past and now future of Dubai, a delight to visit.

As the most of the museum is located underground, you had to walk down a circular path.

Some of the displays, describing dress, culture and religion.

Display of some early jewellery worn by the women.

Bodies entombed and laid in a fetal position.

In Dubai there is a mosque located every 500 metres.

Below is the Burj Al Arab, we did not enter this building.

Atlantis the Palm, lovely hotel along the beachfront.

Downtown Dubai, a new twisted building being built.

Burj Khalifa, an amazing building with 162 floors, we reached the top in 15 seconds. Dined on the 122nd floor for my birthday.

Dubai Mall, ice rink, waterfalls and aquariums, great shopping as well.

Part of the old Dubai mall.

Aquarium in Dubai Mall.

Waterfall.

And a very Happy Birthday to me on the 24th June.

This post has been delayed due to fatigue and trying to recover from jetlag, after  6 days at home finally sleeping through the night, now to get to task and dedicate some energy to our inaugural quilt show in September.