Italian Odyssey - 1.

After a hectic couple of weeks in and around Sydney catching up with family and friends, celebrating birthdays, John heading off down the Murray for his first Big Tour of golf with mate Pete, which was fabulous, the last week was frantic, as final preparations were made. We cannot thank Wayne &Debbie  enough for their hospitality and help, and for providing a home for our caravan & car whilst away. The weather for the week was most unkind, with Sydney experiencing the storm of the century, but we would not be deterred. We got it all done, and on our last weekend even found time to attend the inaugural Dawn Service at Menai, along with thousands of patriotic locals. The organisers were overwhelmed, and deserve credit for a moving and well done service to honour 100 years of Anzac history. John followed up, by heading out to the SFS with friends Wayne & Graeme, and others, for that other great Anzac Day tradition, St.George Dragons versus the Eastern Suburbs Roosters. What a bizarre match with hail storms, play suspension and other distractions making it the longest game in history! Dragons sent us away winners. Yay!!!!!

Next day we finished the packing, covered the caravan, and wonderful Wayne & Debbie drove us out to the Ibis Hotel at the airport, where we would stay the night with a 3.00am wake up call for our 6.00am flight!!! We had a very ordinary dinner in the restaurant, were woken at 11.30pm by the fire alarm, thankfully a false alarm, and then it was 3.00am and we were off to the airport. Pretty quiet at the airport at that time, and mercy be, the shops are shut!!!! We were soon on board our Emirates A380 Airbus, and in the air on the smoothest, quietest, most enjoyable flight we have had. Good food and great service. John slept most of the way, and Carolyn did the movie marathon.

I should point out at this point, that doing the blog on my IPad presents some challenges with putting up photographs, so there will not be many. Instead, we will be posting a lot of photos on One Drive. If you would like the link sent to you, send us an email or text (0481496016), and we will send you the link to share our photos.

On arrival at Dubai, the massive airport meant we went to immigration and baggage collection by train! It was quiet, and we easily met our transfer guy who whisked us away to our hotel for 4 nights, the Hyatt Place Hotel, in the old part of town. The room is huge, and the bed is comfy, and we were early to bed. Next morning, we were off on our first tour, the Al Jadeedah Tour to all the new areas around Jumeirah, The Palm, and the Dubai Marina. When we were here in 2008, this area was a construction zone. Now there are hundreds and hundreds of skyscrapers, Metro system, tram system. It would be like Sydney adding Melbourne CBD in 8 years!!!! We cannot believe the changes. First stop was Atlantis The Palm Hotel, a replica of the one in Bermuda, just bigger! It houses the world's largest Aquarium, and we have tickets for the Chambers of the Lost City. It is mind blowing. From here we are onto the monorail to get back to the bus! Then on to the Dubai Marina, WOW, then on to the tour highlight, the world's tallest building, The Burj Khalifa. This happens to be right next door to the world's largest shopping mall, Dubai Mall, and flanked on one side by the world's biggest musical water fountain. Getting the idea, that they don't do things by half in Dubai? Up we went in the world's fastest lift, to the viewing platform on level 125. The building goes up to level 155! Views are breathtaking, and as the man who hates heights, there was a lot of breathtaking! But it was worth it. Shame it was hazy, but still some amazing views. Then it was off to the mall! Time to start celebrating the girls birthday! we walked and walked and walked and walked and walked the various levels of the mall. We headed home late afternoon, to get ready to come back for the light show and dinner at one of the gazillion restaurants. The light show was just fantastic. The music of Andrea Bocelli & Sarah Brightman sang Time to say Goodbye, as the fountains of water danced around the huge lagoon.Dinner was at the Texas Roadhouse. We felt like steak & ribs, and it was delicious! One last long lap of the Mall, and then home to bed, as we have an early start next morning for our day trip to Abu Dhabi.

Abu Dhabi is the largest of the 7 Emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates. Dubai is the second largest. Along with Sharja, they comprise most of the wealth. The vision of these descendants of Bedouin Tribes is amazing. What has been created from desert in just 30 to 40 years is beyond comprehension. I could go on for days about what has been created. The cities are new and modern, and the diverse architecture is simply incredible. In Abu Dhabi on one of the islands, they are creating a Cultural  Space, with replicas of The Louvre, The Guggenheim and other museums. God knows what treasures they will fill them with!!! We stopped at the Yas Island F1 Track and Hotel. What a place. We did the Heritage Centre to learn a bit about the past, then we looked in awe at the 6 Star Emirates Palace  Hotel, and the equally impressive Presidential Palace. Abu Dhabi is beautiful, on the shores of the Arabian Gulf, and as we drive around we see palace after palace. It is clean, green, modern and spectacular. The best is kept until last. A visit to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. You cannot be prepared for this experience. If it isn't a wonder of the world, it should be. Eleven years to build, it is huge, and magnificent. We have to observe all the cultural rules of being covered and no shoes, and we had an hour to take in one incredible sight after another. The chandeliers are stunning! This place can hold 34,000 worshippers at once. What a way to finish the wonderful tour to Abu Dhabi.

Our last day is for us. We will take in the old town, the Spice Souk, the Gold Souk (of course!), and generally have a look around. We can only imagine what this place will look like in another 8 years! 

Tomorrow we are off to London. The trip is well and truly underway.