May 15

Well, I didn't think I would have much to add today but it has turned out to be great fun. Started out with a taxi to the fruit & veg & meat market (George wanted to see them) and was totally boring, then waited in 43C heat for ages looking for a cab. Finally got one & decided to keep him for a few hours as was lovely & cool in the car and we could go wherever we wanted. Checked out the President's Palace (which is an amazing hotel) then drove by the President's actual palace but couldn't get close enough to get good pictures. Most of the drivers seem to be Indian or Pakistani and understand a little English but often difficult to communicate. Then went on to the Grand Mosque. Have never seen such a magnificent place but oh! So hot! George was not allowed to take pictures of me in front of the Mosque until I had 'robed up'. Along with a multitude of other women I was allocated a lovely long black number with a big headscarf and by then I was really suffering with heat. Men wearing shorts had to wear long white garb. I can't describe the magnificence of the marble, chrystal, marble floors (inlaid with flowers) etc etc. truly amazing and to think we contribute to it all every time we fill up with gas!
Anyway, pleased to say I'm glad of who I am as those sexy outfits do nothing for me! But I do respect their right to keep us infidels in place.
Back to the hotel for a swim before being picked up at 4pm for a Desert Safari! What an experience it was. There were six of us in a Toyota 4 x drive and we drove 75 kms out of Abu Dhabi, stopping off at a camel farm for a few photo shots and to meet up with 4 other vehicles from the same company as we were driving in convoy.
On to the dunes and wow! we were taken on the ride of a lifetime! I think our driver was the most daring, egged on by two young Philipino girls who screamed the whole time. We stopped a couple of times to take pics and to recover from the exhilerating ride - the dune bit took an hour - we watched the sun set just before arriving at the park where we were given a welcome coffee and a date then soft drinks. Camel rides were provided as were snowboards to use on a very steep sand dune. Several tried it, some with success. At dusk a BBQ was served (lamb, chicken, curry etc and salads) and we were then entertained by a terrific belly dancer. I would have to say it was a highlight of the holiday, really.
We leave for home tomorrow night, can't wait to see you all, and I hope that if anyone is still reading this that you haven't been too bored.