Abu Dhabi Day 3

I managed to get up early,even after all the gin the night before, and I was in the pool before 8.30am. Yes, it was cold but it felt good. I  had to make the most of the opportunity. The lifeguard appeared at 9am. I got chatting to him. He was Tanzanian and was bored to death by his job at the hotel. He said there was no one about and that he had to hide his mobile phone because his boss watched him to make sure he was always looking busy even if it was deathly quiet. We talked about Tanzanian towns and Zanzibar. Was interesting but I was getting cold and hungry so I left for breakfast inside.

Seda and I took the shuttle bus to the private Yas beach, which was free for hotel residents. Was a lovely beach but a bit bleak under such grey skies. We just walked up and down, up and down, being observed by the lifeguards again. When we ended up trying to climb over the rocks into a nearby cove,which was barred off due to building work, we got sternly whistled at and ordered to come back onto the private beach.

On the beach

Ferrari World from the beach

Seda on the beach

A strange photo of building work and a massive grey wagon wheel structure. I later found out that this grey metal meat patty was Yas Mall.

Walking back to the hotel from the beach just for more exercise. Everything was so green. Irrigation pipes were cleverly hidden underneath all the bushes. 

We then packed up our stuff and got a taxi to the Eastern Mangroves to meet Michael for lunch. We got the place wrong and left our luggage in a really swish hotel and went looking for him in this chic establishment.

The Lobby

 pool behind was lovely.

But Michael was just round the corner at Carluccio's. We left the bags at the hotel and wandered off to find him. it was a charming little bay with one of these.

This photo made me laugh but Waitrose was having trouble with their door.  It had just fallen off and it was a bit difficult to climb over it into the shop.

We ate lovely food at Carluccio's and then wandered off along the water front which separated the Eastern Mangroves from the city. 

The irrigation system of the UAE. This is how they keep things green. 

Looking out over the Easter Mangroves onto the city.

We then went by taxi back to downtown Abu Dhabi. Michael picked up his framed artwork ready for an exhibition and whilst he and Seda were organising this I got chatting to the taxi driver, who was from Kerala, India. Again it was fun talking about a place I had visited. I enjoyed finding out about his life and how he goes home for one month every year in Ramadan and sees his wife and children. He had been in the UAE for over 10 years as a taxi driver. 

 Then we went to the souk in the World Trade Centre. This was the cleanest , most modern souk,  I had ever been to and I renamed it ' The clinical Souk'. But even so I was able to find lots of good soaps and creams. But definitely no jewellery. It was all for too bling, bling, bling for me.  We ended up in the maddest, weirdest cafe EVER. It was called Shakespeares and was a caricature of something kind of English, French based  mixed with something incredibly kitsch and bizarre.

strange place! Weird lights, furnishings, pots and cakes everywhere and a kind of Tom Baker/Dr. Who inspired scarf thing near to the counter.

Then we ended our evening in the Emirate's Palace, a swish hotel.  What a place! Dripping in money but the vibe inside was actually really nice.  Quite understated and  the lighting was fantastic.  It was all a lot more chic than I thought it would be.

Inside the Emirate's Palace.

We started our evening in the Cuban Lounge which was great. We then wandered off to the Nightclub via the toilets, which was full of the tartiest looking/uber glam  girls ever, all getting spruced up to pull a rich guy in the club I suppose.  We were not allowed in the night club because I was wearing flip-flops.  Which was just not acceptable!!  This was actually a relief as we ended up in a great bar in the far corner of the Palace called Hakkasan.  A lovely place with a really good atmosphere and v. friendly staff.  We had more cocktails with Seda and then just after 2am we said goodbye to her as she was going back to Ankara. It was great to spend time with her and to have someone to hang out with whilst Michael was working.  Hope to meet you again one day Seda.