The U.A.E. or United Arab Emerates is made up of 7 Emerates, or royal families ruled by an Emir, that came together as one county on Dec 2, 1971. So we are in Dubai on a National Unity Day celebration. Fireworks tonight!
The ship docked in Port Rashid around noon on Thursday and we went on a 4-1/2 hour tour to one of the Emerates called Sharjah. Two of the other Emerates are Dubai and Abu Dahbi. Sharjah is the 3rd largest Emerate.
The center of the city/Emerate is Cultural Roundabout where government buildings, a mosque and a library are on four sides of the roundabout and a sculpture of an open Qu'an is in the center.
We drove past the Ladies Club where women can swim on a beach or pool then stopped at the Fort of Sharjah which was built in 1820 and restored in 1998. It depicts life in the 1800's when this was a residence and the seat of the government.
Our next stop was at the Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization contained in a building that was once a meat market and souq. We then got to shop in the Blue Souq which was a long, two-story shopping mall full of independent shops selling rugs, pashmina and gold jewelry as well as clothing and household goods. The building itself was impressive with a blue arched roof topped with big rectangular wind towers. A wind tower would funnel a breeze into a building or home to keep it cool. Today they have A/C.
This was our last night on the ship. We have made some good friends on this voyage and hope we can maintain those friendships in the years to come.
Today we found our hotel and went exploring along the Dubai Marina walk, a 7 km sidewalk along either side of a canal, until our room was ready. We are surrounded by magnificent skyscrapers! We'll head out again shortly to find a dinner spot and to watch fireworks.
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