Abu Dhabi Days

On our way home from Dubai, we decided to detour through Abu Dhabi. Caitlyn had visited there briefly during her stint here with us when she was staying with M friends, and wanted to around some more and show us the hospital she visited.

As we approached Abu Dhabi, we were treated to more skyline similar to Dubai's. While not as big as Dubai, or as glamorous, Abu Dhabi is working on its own transformation--building more skyscrapers and adding more shopping attractions that we in the west would appreciate! Here are some of the views as we headed into town and back out again:

It was a very hazy day, and this picture is not all that great, but I though it was unusual
that the triple towers are connected by a horizontal building at the top!

Mural painted on the sides of the underpass tunnel as we begin driving under the ocean.

There were miles of the carved shrubs along the sea road, or corniche.

This man was laughing at me because I had the camera out and was clicking away on it,
so I decided to take his picture as well!

The Sultan--a typical way to honor and recognize their leaders in the Middle East.

Entrance to the Palace Hotel in Abu Dhabi, one of only a few of  7-star hotels in the world.

The Palace Hotel 

New construction with the Arabic twist.

Does this need any explanation?

The palm tree on the left is not really a palm tree. It is a cell tower disguised
as a palm tree. We saw these all over the Emirates.

These trees with beautiful orange flowers were planted all over
Abu Dhabi. They reminded me of orange mimosa trees!

The giant sphere in the background is part of an enormous water park--looked like fun!

An IKEA store--imagine my thrill--and I spent some money there too!

There might be one in Dubai, but this is the first honest-to-goodness, true
 hardware store I've seen since moving here!

Caity at the Hospital in Al Ayn. Check out Care International if you want to
find out more about it. She really enjoyed her visit there!