If It's The Beaches...

Beach along the corniche in Abu Dhabi, with the Heritage Center and the world's tallest freestanding flag pole in the background.

Last weekend began with a  trip to the beach in Abu Dhabi.  Because this country was very conservative, a person might expect the beaches to be filled with people in modest clothing, and the public beaches are.  It's not appropriate for women to wear regular bathing suits there.  But next to the public beach there was a "private beach" that we paid 10 dhs (about $3) to visit.  It was a "family beach" and they wouldn't even let our male friends in until we said they were with us.  I guess they didn't want random dudes on the beach babe-watching.  I thought it was interesting that people in bikinis go to the family beach instead of the public one. That doesn't seem family-friendly.

Beach with the city in the background.

 The body of water we swam in is an inlet that is part of the Persian Gulf. The water was very warm and very salty but actually refreshing.  The boys rented jet skis but the girls just swam and sun-bathed, although the sun wasn't nearly as hot as I thought it would be.  Sadly enough that was the first time I have worn a bathing suit all summer, but I didn't even get sunburned. I think some of the haze blocks the harmful rays.  Plus, it is fall now!

Beach at sunset.  The sun looks like that because of the haze.  The structure that looks sort of like the space needle is a restaurant at the mall.

Later I will be writing about the best part of our weekend- a desert safari!

ET


ps The title of this post is in reference to one of my favorite songs by the Avett Brothers.