Dubai: the miracle! A trip to the second largest city of the United Arab Emirates

From Dubai to Oman, the flight is short, but it seems to fly through the centuries: from the futuristic science fiction that borders the Emirate, its frantic pace based on the business and entertainment, the rugged mountains of the Sultanate, its streets crossing wild and surreal landscapes, from the blazing desert interspersed by beautiful oasis crossed by wadis, beaches lapped by turquoise sea, where turtles come every night to lay their eggs.
Two worlds close geographically, but so far in mind, yet both very charming, joined by a unique feature: the practice of Islam in its most intriguing and genuine respect and tolerance towards all other peoples.
Dubai and Oman, a trip in the scents and colors of Arabia, moving up to the most extreme of futurism and radical deep respect for ancient traditions.
And that feeling of true that perhaps in other places has been inexorably lost.

 

Some infos about Dubai

Expensive or economic city? It depends on what you plan to do. Daily life is cheaper than us: hotels in Deira, Bur Dubai and Al Barsha are generally inexpensive and comfortable.
Those overlooking the Jumeirah Beach are prohibitive.
The restaurants are cheap, they are all the cuisines of the world and are often enclosed in the huge shopping malls. Do not think the classic commercial center at the Mall of the Emirates you can ski indoors, the Dubai Mall looks like a royal palace ...
On the beach you can go free, if you really want to go to bed and umbrella Jumeirah Beach Park, entrance 1 euro 4 euro lounger and umbrella. Turquoise sea, but almost always rough, endless white beaches.
You travel by taxi, the distances are enormous: a short run of 4-5 km costs just 2 euro, 30 km from the airport to Al Barsha cost about 15 euro.
Recently inaugurated the Dubai metro, futuristic, fast and affordable but the open stations are few and usually far from the attractions.
The most expensive things in Dubai are the most innovative attractions: the Atlantis water park, Ski Dubai, the hike in the desert, climbing the Burj Khalifa, from 50 to 20 euro.
Do not miss dinner at the Burj al Arab, less daunting than you might think, unique and unforgettable experience, if only to admire the hotel from the inside. ... INCREDIBLE!

Saturday, 27/03/2010

Ready, set, go. A few months later we are still here at the airport in Istanbul, the crossroads of our latest adventure, thanks to favorable rates offered by Turkish Airlines (Flight outward and return from Muscat to Dubai, via Istanbul, € 410).
Usually air traffic departing from turkish and despite embarking on time, arrive in Dubai with a half hour late, at about 3 am. And baggage claim checks are fast, within half an hour climb into the taxi (15 euro) and 4 are already placed in our spacious apartment in Al Barsha area (Seven Sands Hotel Apartment, € 77 with breakfast on booking.com). Really a cheap and comfortable: The hotel is a short taxi ride from the main attractions: the Burj Al Arab, the Palm, the new area of Jumeirah, Dubai Marina and The Walk, 8 minutes walk from the Mall of the Emirates with the Ski Dubai, although the walk to get there is a bit 'uneven among different sites, and 10 minutes from the new Monorail which connects the center. The apartment is spacious and the staff friendly: large living room with sofa bed already prepared for the baby, kitchen, two bathrooms, double room, 2 LCD TV with stereo, DVD ... etc, in short, all things we do not need!

Dubai, Sunday, 28/03/2010

There is no time to lose, and after a few hours of sleep we are already standing, ready to visit the ancient heart, if I may, in Dubai. We reach the Mall of the Emirates where we experienced the first impact with the absurd reality and richness of Dubai through the large windows of the mall and restaurants, look at this amazing indoor ski slope with ski lift, toboggan run, two runs slopes, temperature of -4 degrees to 35 against the exterior. The mall is huge and we reach the station from inside the monorail to downtown. The trip to Buri Dubai is electrifying: the subway travel in the open air between the futuristic city skyline, from Khalifa Burj, the tallest skyscraper in the world, over 800 meters high above the bizarre shape of the Emirates Towers and passes in middle of the Financial Center.
We start from the famous gold souk, where elegant shops follow each other with the glittering shows, then go to the spice souk: I honestly thought that they were more authentic souk, but not that much impressed. We reach the creek, the canal that runs through the town, we cross the Abras, a typical boat that serves as a water taxi for a few cents. Life on the river reminds us a bit 'a slice of Dubai a few decades ago, when the skyscrapers were not yet part of the cityscape: the Creek is very busy, abrasive carrying tourists and inhabitants and vessels laden with merchandise. But the view of the modern buildings flanking the river take us back to reality super modern. We visit the lovely Dubai Museum, housed in an ancient fortress, with multimedia displays that trace the development of the city and finish the walk in the neighborhood Bastiaka, with its famous wind towers. Back at the hotel by taxi, pausing for a few minutes in front of the imposing and beautiful Jumeirah mosque.
For dinner we reach again the Mall of the Emirates: the mall areas are very pleasant to dine inside are of real food-court offering cuisine from around the world, at prices generally lower, but soon the flesh always spicy, a little stove.

Dubai, Monday, 29/03/2010

Take a taxi to the new area of Dubai Marina, we stopped in front of the Hilton Jumeirah where there is an infinite access to public beach punctuated by a brief stretch of privately owned hotels and spend the day in this very white and clean , semi-desert and surrounded by a sea blue but still rather moderate. The water is pleasantly warm in front of us a spectacular skyline, made up of brand new skyscrapers and impressive futuristic architecture. The temperature is quite high, at the end of March the thermometer settles on 35 degrees. Walking along the beach is a pier artificial water here is very calm, transparent and the sight is amazing. Before leaving this area we walk to The Walk, a long pedestrian street full of bars and restaurants, in the shadow of the towering skyscrapers that extend to the Marina.
In the evening, a few minutes by taxi (2 euro) reach the Madinat, elegant and luxurious resort with an expensive and sophisticated indoor souk and a huge lagoon with water taxis, with stunning views of the Burj al Arab, which we reach by walking 10 minutes.

Burj al Arab
There is no picture or photograph can do justice to the magnificence of the Burj al Arab. ... Some might think the end is just a luxury hotel, the result of the boldness and the wealth of petrodollars, a slap to wretched poverty and people who work for a living.
One can not deny: but I would add that it remains an undisputed symbol of the human capacity to create a work of architecture able to dream for perfection, for his class and splendor, even if only for one night, one night, or hours.

Unfortunately for most people, there is a wet dream: to spend 1600 euro for a night from Pacha in the only 7 star hotel in the world is unimaginable. But there is a solution, most on hand to enjoy an evening in the charm and magic of the Burj, a dinner at one of its less exclusive restaurants, the Bab al Jam. Of course, this way you will not have the opportunity to walk around in one of the suites ranging from 170 up to 780 square feet, served 24 hours a day from private butler, but you'll even be able to admire the incredible lobby, luxurious rooms, the outdoor gardens with breathtaking views of Dubai.
The price? Less prohibitive than you might think, seeing is believing!
First thing to do is move in time and book well in advance: send an email to request price and reservation, please answer the restaurant an agent who will advise you on everything you ask for your credit card to guarantee the reservation, the preferred time and will provide some indication of the type that has a dress code smart casual, to put the phone in silent mode, you can not take pictures in the restaurant (I got them, asking permission, but not the buffet). We also ask you if you have needs and food allergies and if by chance you celebrate some special event (I said that we celebrated the birthday of my wife).
We decide to walk to get there and present ourselves in front of the access bridge that connects the hotel, as the Burj is built in the sea. Before us presents a kind of armed army that controls a lot of people who photograph the hotel from the bars, there are even huge furniture bollards to stop cars. We present our reservation and immediately greets us with a manager: Welcome dear Mr. Albert. By accessing and from that moment we can run free in all areas of the hotel: cross the long suspension bridge that offers magnificent views of the sailing of the Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Madinat and the white sandy beaches, until you get in front of ' imposing façade of the Burj, the top 321 meters: incredible, from the outside sounds like science fiction, a spaceship from Star Trek: changes color every 10 seconds, going from yellow to purple, blue to red. All the people we meet with a smile and welcome us with great kindness.
We enter the lobby and we are without words: a long escalator to the upper floor rooms, flanked by two giant aquariums: dancing fountains in front of us, sitting on the maharajah, elaborate waterfalls and the immense structure of the complex, which never seems to end in height, with a kaleidoscope of colors are predominantly blue, white and gold. We ask for information and accompany us to our restaurant and our reserved table. Here I was expecting a more elegant, formal and wide: instead we find nice furnishings, but not excessive, we immediately put at ease by the waiters, nice spigliatamente while ensuring excellent service and a buffet are not exaggerated in size but kept the details. The food is presented with minutiae and unique class, in small portions, with the chefs ready immediately to never do it all: striking the corner with appetizers of fish, dipped in ice, where there are lobsters, crabs, oysters, crabs Sushi bottle to various types unknown to me. The food is the main link to the Arab and the international flavor, while cooking in the barbecue you can get at will and desire any kind of meat, tuna, swordfish, salmon. Do not disappoint even the sweets, highly processed, and presented with grandeur worthy and fresh fruit, with strawberries as big as clementines. I had read that every ingredient used in cooking comes straight from the country of origin so as Grana Padano comes from Italy, exotic fruits from the east and so on.
After dinner, we have before us the waiters with a cake with candle, turning to my wife singing Happy Birthday
Since we are now saturated with food, we take away the sweet bundle, complete with license plate box Burj al Arab, the Worlds Most luxurious hotel.
Even the toothpicks are personalized.
After dinner we go out on the terraces and gardens in front of us comes across Dubai lit.
A dream is over after a few hours but now it will be difficult to forget.

Dubai, Tuesday, 30/03/2010

Morning on the beach again, this time we reach in ten minutes by taxi (4 euro), the Jumeirah Beach Park (entrance fee, 1 euro if rent chairs and umbrellas). This park is well maintained, wherever there are flower beds in the lush gardens, while a row of tropical palm trees separating the endless beach that seems "stretched" like a ski slope. You can let the umbrella plant at the point favorite and the first part of the morning, the beach is practically deserted, and then fills in the central area only slightly. In addition, there are soccer field, beach volley, showers, changing rooms and snack bar. After a lunch in the picnic tables under the palms, back to the hotel and prepare for the afternoon excursion to the desert: at home I had booked the excursion with DSD Northtours (38 euro per person) to pick us up punctually at the hotel. There are various agencies offering the trip, but eventually all find themselves in the same field in the desert: the program consists in crossing the desert dunes by jeep, and then arrive in the evening at a Bedouin camp for dinner and dance show. I honestly do not know whether to recommend this excursion, it's really too touristy, though some are remarkable scenery and some stops are too forced and down the dunes, more fun that it is almost time for your stomach, but it depends from the driver that pecked the ours was half crazy and we had the impression that tilt at all times! However, the first stop at a souvenir shop and refreshment, then you enter in the dunes that face down with frightening jolts and the limit for about twenty minutes, reach a vantage point on the desert's really lovely, then another 15 minutes more relaxed to reach the Bedouin camp, but that is not on the dunes at the edge of the desert. Here pre-dinner activities take place at the edge of banality, such as a short (but soon ...) ride on camels, tourist bazaar, henna painting for a fee, in other words, things not to my taste. The dinner buffet is very good, they taste some local specialties as well as grilled meat: it sits on the typical Bedouin rugs around a stage, where we expect the traditional dances are held, but we finish dinner and show not even the ' shadow. We demand an explanation and tell us that the show takes only 2-3 times a week. ... But as !??!????

Dubai, Wednesday, 31/03/2010

The last day to spend at the innovative Dubai Atlantis Water Park: taxi to the monorail station (€ 2.5 each way), which runs along the famous Dubai Palm, including billionaire villas with private beach immaculate, up to the huge resort. Council to take at least a section with the monorail because it offers truly breathtaking views (warning, opens at 10 am). We combined ticket (€ 50) which includes admission to the Waterpark and the Lost Chamber, aquarium with reconstruction of Atlantis. Altino them but the price is really worth all, the park is really cutting edge, with many breathtaking slides that have descended from the reconstruction of Zigurat: Most of you walk down with the boats, also available double not to abandon children: the most exciting is the slide that before entering a dark tunnel and then emerge into an enormous aquarium, where we observe sharks along the last stretch above his head, rays and tropical fish. Paced by the swooping Zigurat while many others can be reached without stairs, with a treadmill that shows the top. In addition, long streams with the waves, swimming pools and a huge white sandy beach. In the afternoon walk around the Lost Chamber, with huge aquarium where lie the ruins of the legendary Atlantis.
In the late afternoon we go to the Dubai Mall, the newest luxury mall in Dubai which stands opposite the imposing mass of the Burj Khalifa: more than a mall looks like a palace of a sultan in the gold souk there is a fabulous, impressive waterfalls, an ice hockey on the ice. After dinner we leave the mall and walk in the incredible lagoon in front of the Khalifa, where every 15 minutes you can watch an impressive display of dancing fountains: a worthy conclusion to these crazy days in Dubai!

Departure for Oman

We leave at dawn Dubai and the Emirates in the direction of Sharjah, which takes about 40 minutes by taxi (20 euro), while the opposite lane is completely paralyzed, a warning: do not walk the streets from north to south morning, and from south to north in the evening, due to commuter traffic.