Abu Dhabi Celebrates 37 Years

We started to notice all of the lights on the boulevards and streets about three weeks ago. However, they only started lighting them up last week...anyone can see the city has spared no expense to light it up for their 37th anniversary. It's starting to look more like Vegas around here (the guy on the street handing out 'flyers' has been replaced by the guy on the street selling etisalat cards) everyday.

We spent our National Day by joining all of the other immigrants on the Corniche for a 45 minute fireworks show. It was nice to be back on the Corniche (it's been over a month now since we've been in the villa), and there was a cool breeze, that I've never felt before. A wore a sweater, and I brought along my New York pashmina (only the finest), which I eventually ended up giving away to keep A's legs warm (she was wearing a dress).

The Corniche was very crowded with all the brown people living here. I'm not sure where all the European ex-pats were...but they definitely were NOT down there with us. The fireworks started at 8:30 pm. It was very exciting (A's first fireworks)...but after the first 5 minutes...well...let's just say, I was ready to hop in a cab to get myself back home. I was still dragging from the GM concert the previous night, combined with the limited amount of sleep that A gave me once I got home (I believe ALL of the rest of her teeth might be trying to come in at once).

In addition to all of the street decorations, Emiratis have contributed to the festivities by dressing up their cars. From small touches like flags and stickers to the extreme painting of the shaikhs past and present, into their window tinting, we saw it all as they paraded on Corniche Road. Children were sitting out of sunroofs and waving flags. Firecrackers and string confetti were in the air. Altogether, a very colourful, happy and safe celebration.

Fortunately, traffic home was light (thank-you again to our friend Peter M. who drove us home), and we were home by 10. Everyone was exhausted, and so our party ended fairly early.

Our household was all asleep within the hour.

On Wednesday morning we visited the Shaikh Zayed Mosque. This is a beautiful mosque, where the Shaikh's body has been entombed. We all had the opportunity to dress up in local garb and tour through the mosque. We have decided this will be OUR West Edmonton Mall, because this is one place we will take EVERYBODY who comes to visit us in Abu Dhabi.