Starting down the Slippery Slope

I know that I've mentioned Yalumba's Friday Bubbly Brunches, but I haven't posted anything about it yet (the pictures don't always show me in the best light - ha!). My friend, Laura, booked a Friday Brunch to celebrate my 30th (eekkkk) with all of my Dubai friends. It's an all you can eat and drink buffet from 12:30-3:30 and then the party typically moves to another venue and continues until 9 or 10 that evening.

Yalumba never fails to disappoint and Friday was no exception. As you walk in to the restaurant you're handed a glass of champagne and it's NEVER empty. The waiters are constantly topping you off. I learned that lesson the hard way at Yalumba #1 last November (mom was in town and stayed with Dylan and got to see us in all of our champagne'd glory when we stumbled in around 10). In order to be cautious this time, I switched to beer so that I'd at least have an idea of how much I was drinking. That plan was going well until a tray of 25 tequila shots arrived at our table. Never one to waste alcohol, I felt obligated to take a leftover shot or two from the smart folks who said "no way Jose"!

And then my friends, the fun really began. Nothing like a little tequila to grease the dancin' wheels. Apparently Kel tells me that I have a signature move...stay with me and you'll be rewarded with some pics.

At 3:30 we decide to move on over to Alpha which is a club/bar in the same hotel just across the lawn. They have an afternoon special for all of the Yalumba stumblers. One cover and all you can drink until 7. During an exporation of the club (ignoring the velvet ropes), we discovered an upstairs terrace and several private rooms with a view of the dance floor below. Since there was 25 of us, it was a good place to all hang out. Unfortunately the bouncer was not as thrilled with babysitting us, but after a small donation everything was fine.

I'm sure most of you can figure out the rest of the evening, so I'll spare you the details (not that I remember them anyway). Since I am now old and wise, I will share a few lessons that I learned from my 3oth celebration.

1. Alcohol really doesn't make me dance any better.

2. I have no DJ training and should stay well away from the DJ.

3. Velvet ropes across a doorway typically mean that I'm not allowed there.

4. Why walk when you can be carried?

Do I Qualify for Goddess Status Yet?

*** I apologize in advance because this post will be a bit long - don't read it all - you can skim the pictures (just lie and tell me you did read it)!***

One of the reasons I looked forward to moving to Dubai was to take advantage of the close proximity (compared to the States) of so many cool places. After a year, we finally jumped the gun and hopped on a plane to Athens. We had a great time (well mostly...more on that in a minute). The best part was that it took us only about 4 1/2 hours to get there! What I was thinking the entire time on the plane was that in 2 weeks I'd be flying 3 times that long with little man BY MYSELF! He is such a handful these days!

Day 1:

We took a taxi to the airport Thursday morning and of course I got all hot and sweaty (it's still in the upper 90s with high humidity here) installing the carseat in the taxi. However, it was a pleasant surprise that the taxi at least had the upper latch. We got on the plane no problem and were surprised to find out that we had the third seat in our row empty, so D got his own seat! Not that he sat in it...He was actually pretty good on the flight and played on the floor (with the in flight entertainment remote NOT any of the toys I brought for him) in front of our seats while Kel blocked the aisle with his leg. Just as we started to fly over the lower islands of Greece, Dyl decided that it was time to take a nap in his seat. Figures...

In flight entertainment remote and a roll

We made our way to the Metro station and easily got to the hotel. The room didn't look too bad, but we were in for a few surprises later. We decided to take advantage of the rest of the day and headed to the National Archaeological Museum. The Metro was really easy to navigate and all the stops are written in English as well as Greek. The National Archaeological Museum is a little overwhelming because there is so much! We spent a couple of hours there and I think we easily could have stayed a half a day. In between chasing D, we managed to see Agamemnon's death mask and several marble sculptures. Seriously, I have no idea how they had time for anything besides sculpting and building. On the way back to the hotel D fell asleep in his little backpack carrier thing and we were able to put him right to bed. I couldn't believe how easy it was! D always sleeps in his own room and we were a bit apprehensive about how he would do in the room with us.

Agamemnon's Death Mask

Day 2:

D woke up around 6:30 (early for him) when the person in the room next to ours slammed their door closed and was thrilled to see us, but not so thrilled when we attempted to ignore him for a few more minutes of sleep. No dice. We got up and headed to the Metro again to follow the ancient landmarks walking tour from our Lonely Planet guide which included the Acropolis and Parthenon. The weather was gorgeous! I haven't seen skies so blue since we left Houston from our Christmas vacation in January. And, there was no humidity!

We walked A...L...L day and while Dylan isn't a big kid; he was heavy in the backpack. After a quick walk through Hadrian's Library, and a pit stop at a fruit stand we headed to the Roman Agora and Ancient Agora. These were community centers that had government offices, baths, great halls...We took a break from the Ancient Agora and had lunch at a nice outside cafe. After that it was a quick hike back to the Ancient Agora where we made our way up to the Temple of Hephaestus. Then, we began the long hike up to the Acropolis. Just like everyone else, I remember studying Greek history, but I never knew that the Parthenon was so high up! We took a pit stop at the Areopagus Hill and checked out the view of the Acropolis and surrounding city.

Walking in Plaka, the area just below the Acropolis

An olive tree!



View from the Temple of Hepaphestus

Then we started up the hill to the Acropolis. I'm sure this is trite, but there's nothing like seeing the Parthenon in person! It's so much bigger than I thought. And the view from the Acropolis is amazing! You can see to the Port of Piraeus, the surrounding city, and even our hotel.

Theatre of Dionysus

We had the overconfidence that night of many of the number 1 college football teams this season and figured that D would be no problem to get to sleep. WRONG! He screamed when we put him in the pack n play, wouldn't lay down in the bed with us, and we resorted to putting him in the backpack and walking around outside. I guess he thought it was an adventure and gained a second wind. Finally, we put him in the crib and I stayed right next to him and sang until he finally laid down. It was a rough night.



Day 3:


After another night of limited sleep, we headed out to the other side of the city to see the National Gardens, Roman Baths, Hadrian's Arch, Temple of Olympian Zeus and the new Acropolis Museum. The Metro was much cheaper than a rental car or taxi and much cleaner and safer. I wish Houston had something like that. We were able to get anywhere in the city with no more than a 10 minute walk from the Metro. What we've missed in green in Dubai, the National Gardens more than made up for. It was an overcast day and a little cooler which we loved since we hadn't seen clouds or cool weather since January. D even had to wear a little jacket for a while.

Syntagma Metro Station with archaelogical finds behind glass (even skeletons in graves)

National Gardens

Hadrian's Arch with the Acropolis in the background

Temple of Olympian Zeus

The most amazing thing was seeing the museum for the Acropolis that's still under construction. It's built on top of ruins and a good portion of the flooring is clear glass panels that you can see down 15 feet or so to the excavated sites. I was a little intimidated so I tried to walk along the beams as much as possible! It was interesting to read that many ancient artifacts from the area are being returned from different museums around the world. Hundreds of years ago grave robbers would steal items and sell them to private collectors and private collectors would sell them to someone else or eventually they'd end up donated to a museum.

Floor of Museum that you could see down to the ruins through.

Day 4:

We'd read that Filopappou Hill had some great views of the Acropolis so we walked through Plaka and hiked up to check it out. After taking in a few monuments and seeing Socrates Prison, we stopped for a late lunch in one of the tons of outdoor cafes. We ended up staying for a while since a little thunderstorm moved through.

Socrates' Prison

Day 5:

Having explored most of what we wanted to see in Athens, we decided to take a Flying Dolphin to an island off the coast of Athens. After a 1 1/2 hour boat ride, we spent the day on Hydra. The island has no vehicle transportation. Your choices are limited to donkeys and water taxis. We decided to stick with our legs since a brief thunderstorm left the donkeys smelling less than pleasant. We walked all around the island and the little walkways between buildings were just what I imagined Greece to be. It was clean, white, and very rustic.

Cats were everywhere! Even fishing...

The donkeys

A Year Later...

Since we've just finished up a year of living as Expats I thought I'd list my top 10 of what I love and hate right now about Dubai.

Positives first...

1. The roundabout is completed! Construction has been going on since we moved into the Ranches.
2. Busy social life! Bunco, dinner club, Friday brunches, evenings with friends
3. Some of our dream destinations are super close. (My Athens post is coming I swear!) Seychelles next spring, then hopefully Venice :)
4. We'll have nice weather until December when it will get a bit 'cool'! By the way, it's still pretty hot and humid.
5. I have time to cook dinner every night if I choose.
6. Taxis are cheap.
7. I am learning a lot about Muslims.
8. I feel safer here than in Houston.
9. Sandstorms make it look overcast.
10.I have a gas stove that is so awesome to cook on!


Now for what I am hating (maybe that word is a little strong)...

1. Self entitled idiots thinking they can drive in the middle of two lanes, cut me off so close that I have to slam on my brakes, ride my ass and flash high beams even though there is someone right in front of me, and basically drive like shit.
2. Sand - it's everywhere
3. Body Odor - it can be rank here
4. Time difference makes it difficult to watch UT football (thank goodness for the slingbox though)! This Saturday night we'll be up late watching TX/OU even though it's a weeknight!
5. Missing all my friends and family! 9 days people and I will be on that miserable flight to Houston! I haven't been home in TEN months! Watch out Taco Bell.
6. TV here sucks! I get to choose between The Nanny, Coach, and Married With Children
7. It's nearly impossible to get anything fixed right here. I'm sure if you scroll through the archives you'll see a few examples.
8. You can't look anywhere without seeing construction.
9. No rain.
10.No piercing blue skies. The amount of sand in the air fades the blue of the sky.

I'm Not Stuck on the Roundabout

Yes, my friends, it's finally finished! The Ranches roundabout is G..O..N..E! We now have a proper interchange to get out of our neighborhood. For those of you not in Dubai, let me give you a little background. In order to get to our neighborhood from anywhere in Dubai you previously had to travel around the Ranches roundabout. Maybe I need to back up a bit further and explain a roundabout. Houstonians, there are roundabouts in Houston behind the Memorial City Hospital on I10. But, they're little cutesie ones in a residential neighborhood. Sorry, I digress.

A roundabout is a way to navigate crossing roads without a stoplight. It's a giant circle with four (typically) roads sprouting off of it. So, you get onto the roundabout and if you want to turn right, you take the first road sprout. Straight, the second. Left, the third. You get it right?

Now, the Ranches roundabout was a crossing of a major highway and a minor highway. There were three lanes in the roundabout and all kinds of crazy rules about who could turn from which lane. The worst thing about it was the traffic buildup. In order to make the roundabout safer, the RTA installed traffic lights so that you could only get on the roundabout when your light was green. The cycle was FIVE full minutes. I rarely made it through on the first cycle. There are two ways (see DDDD #3) out of the neighborhood. Basically, getting somewhere that was 15 minutes away would take at least 45 because of the freakin roundabout. And, there was no way to know how bad it was going to be. I've sat in the line for 30 minutes before on a Wednesday at 10am.

On a Thursday afternoon a few weeks ago it was announced that the interchange would be open the next morning! I was beyond excited and found something to do Friday morning! It was awesome driving over Emirates Road and not having to stop!

NO more stoplights.
NO more queueing.
NO more endless waiting.

Here are the before pictures...

Approaching the Roundabout from Mall of the Emirates on 63 (Umm Suqueim)

Scaffolding for the flyovers (these pics were taken Nov of last year)

Near the Emirates Road Jebel Ali side
Near the back entrance of the Ranches

And here are the after pictures...

Leaving the Ranches and heading toward Jebel AliOn the overpass that crosses Emirates Road
Umm Suqueim Road that takes you to Mall of the Emirates and the back entrance of the Ranches (the Ranches is back left out of the picture)

This is the way that you get on Emirates Road from Umm Suqueim (63) and head toward Jebel Ali

Taking Emirates Road to Jebel Ali from the back entrance of the Ranches