Emirates Flight 236 At the gate in Chicago O'Hare, our 777 that we're taking to Dubai. The flight is 13-1/2 hours non-stop.
Boeing 777 Engine One of the Boeing 777's two engines. These are the largest-diameter turbofan engines of any aircraft.
Settling In As we settled in, we learned the plane was only 1/3 full. So we each took a row so we could stretch out and sleep.
Uniforms The flight attendants have quite a stylish uniform. Once in the air the caps disappeared until it was time to land.
Twinkle Twinkle The 777 cabin features LED twinkle lights on the ceiling; they were turned on when the other cabin the lights were dimmed.
Chicago to Dubai This was our approximate flight path, although we flew a little further East over Russia, avoiding the Ukraine.
Cruise Ship? Midway through the night/flight we went to the back to stretch our legs. One of the flight attendants offered to take our photo. We laughed, it felt like we were on a cruise ship!
First Peek First view of the UAE as we landed in Dubai. A mosque is in the center.
Iranian Imports At the Co-op grocery store in Abu Dhabi. On the left, Imports from Iran. On the right, one of three entire shelves of honey. These bottles go for as much as $100 each.
Fancy Water This bottled water must be pretty fancy. It is bottled from mist: You know, water harvested from the air'!
Camel Milk We decided to try the Camel Milk taste test. Surprisingly, date flavored was the best!
Abu Dhabi Fort An old photograph of the fort in Abu Dhabi. This was what the city probably looked like about 50 years ago. Note the scalloped pattern along the top of the wall.
Modern Abu Dhabi Modern buildings behind the original fort. Notice the same scalloped wall as in the old photograph.
The "Bait House" The word "Bait" means "House" in Arabic. We called this restaurant the "Bait House" which is like saying "House House". Regardless, the name stuck!
Hummus with Roasted Pine Nuts This hummus with roasted pine nuts, chickpeas, olive oil and garnish was delicious!
Hummus with Pomegranite This hummus has olive oil and pomegranite seeds in the center.
Salad Another delicious salad at the Bait House.
Bait House Salad Another delicious salad at the Bait House.
Pita Oven While we ate, they baked fresh hot pita bread and delivered it to our table. Yummy!
Pita A bowl of fresh pita at the Bait House.
Limeade with Mint This was a wonderful drink that we shared. I need to figure out how to create it at home!
Delicious Drinks Carrot Orange and Lime Mint drinks.
Pottery Eggs One of Nick's favorite dishes.
Merrill Apartment View This view is from the Merrill's apartment. On the right is a new Cleveland Clinic medical campus. On the left you can see the pilings for a new highway bridge. Far in the distance is Saadiyat, a new area under development. The National Museum and a branch of the Louvre are under construction there.
Desalinization Plant Here's where the drinking water for the city comes from. This plant extracts fresh water from the sea.
Contrasts This mother's conservative dress contrasts with that of her twin daughters.
Light Patterns Absract patterns are everywhere in the Middle East, seen here looking up at a chandelier.
The Grand Mosque The Sheik Zayed Grand Mosque was completed in 2007.
Shiek Zayed Grand Mosque The largest mosque in the UAE.
Famous Ladies Wherever Jenny goes, people want their photo taken with her. We don't quite know why. These gentlemen are from Ghana.
Dress Code Here's some diagrams of clothing styles that are permitted and not allowed within the mosque. If you are non-conforming, they have free coverings available.
Marble Mosque The Sheik Zayed Grand Mosque is clad in Macedonian marble.
Date Palm Columns These decorative column tops are anodized aluminum. Most visitors guess incorrectly that it's gold. The gold leaf is only on the top of the domes and spires.
Column Forest Each of the columns at the Grand Mosque is inlaid with flower patterns made with semi-precious stones.
Mosque Guide Our guide was courteous, informative and friendly!
Mosque Chandelier Another beautiful chandelier in the mosque.
Prayer Clock This clock provides the date in two calendar systems as well as the prayer times for today. The display alternates between western and arabic.
Mosque Carpet This carpet inside the mosque is the largest single-piece carpet in the world.
Central Chandelier
Semiprecious Flower This decoration is inlaid into the floor of the Grand Mosque.
Subway Eat Fresh! In English or Arabic.
Wendy's
McDonalds Wherever you go in the world, McDonald's is already there.
Pizza Hut
Hardees/Carl's Jr.
KFC The "Colonel" is popular in the United Arab Emirates.
Camels Accepted Sign in the Texas Roadhouse. Camels are an accepted form of payment here!
Seafood Market Unlike many countries, the fish market is immaculate in Abu Dhabii.
Seafood from Yemen Seafood from Yemen is available in spite of the unrest there.
Fresh Fish
Dates Dates are beloved in the UAE. Here are just a few of the varieties available.
Delicious Dates These dates were the most awesome ever! Stuffed with a cashew, dipped in white chocolate and rolled in pistachios.
Automatic Sunshades
Crazy Architecture
Hole-y Architecture, Batman!
LIghts in the Souq
Saddam's Neglected Fountain
Toyota Hilux
Horse Lamp Lights Available in white and black!
Golden Goblet-Lamps
Golden Goblet-Lamp
New York University at Saadiyat
Model of the Louvre
Model of National Museum
Yas Mall next to Ferrari World
At Ferrari World The world's largest indoor amusement park.
A Ferrari at Ferrari World
Ferrari World
Downtown Abu Dhabi
Burkinis on the Beach
Ethiad Towers
Emirates Palace
Lobby of Emirates Palace
An ATM for Gold
C;leveland Clinic at Night
