Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
We slept so well last night, not a big surprise! We passed out at about 1am and while I woke up frequently during the night, I went right back to sleep and was very comfortable. We got up very excited around 7:30am and felt refreshed and excited to start the day. Abu Dhabi boasts emerald blue seas, white sand beaches, haunting sand dunes and a lot of culture plus the amenities of a modern city. Abu Dhabi is the capital of the United Arab Emirates and is much quieter and authentic than than its flashy and cosmopolitan neighbor Dubai. Abu Dhabi is situated between two extremes-the beauty of the pristine Persian Gulf and miles of rolling desert sand dunes. The natural wonders offer a beautiful backdrop to a city that is home to both modern developments and a wealth of cultural treasures. Abu Dhabi offers a delicious fusion of global cuisines. The cities location by the sea makes fresh seafood a staple of many dishes. Dishes often highlight flavors of cinnamon, saffron and turmeric, complemented with nuts, limes and dried fruit. The capital of the United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi is the largest and wealthiest of the nation’s seven emirates and is a rapidly growing cosmopolitan metropolis. Glittering skyscrapers pierce the sky, and five-star resorts spread across islands both natural and manmade. There are golf courses, beaches, marinas, upscale malls, a Formula One race car track, amusement areas and cultural institutions-outposts of the Louvre and Guggenheim museums are opening soon. We had a sumptuous breakfast spread and really enjoyed it. Then explored the hotel before heading out to the desert for the afternoon and evening. We will be back to Abu Dhabi at the end of our trip to spend more time exploring.
