Welcome to Abu Dhabi

Isaac and I just got back from our Babymoon . . . our last big, carefree vacation before the baby. We went to Abu Dhabi (it's in the Middle East, if you didn't know. I didn't until I got out a map) to visit Isaac's sister and her husband, Sophie and Scott- who by the way were AMAZING hosts, so if you have the opportunity, you should definitely go and visit them (yes this is meant for you Olson family), because we had a fabulous time. One of their great offerings, along with the Hilton shower supplies and slippers, was Scott's services as our personal photographer. By the end, he took over 500 pictures of us. I will not post all 500, just some of the highlights.

Isaac tries to touch the shark behind the world's largest piece of plexiglass. Lobster Thermador served on a boat with fireworks on our Dhow Dinner Cruise.

"Dune Bashing" in the middle of the desert.
Falcon feeding at the falcon hospital.

The Great Mosque (third largest in the world and one of the only that non-Muslim's are allowed to visit. The tour guide proudly stated that since it's opening in 2003 there have been 4 converts to Islam due to the tours)

Sophie and I dressed and ready to enter the Mosque.

This is what a real oasis looks like. No giant pond with a few palm trees, more of a palm tree forest in the middle of desert.

Shopping at the camel souk. They cost about 5000 dirham, a little too expensive for a pet.

Slurpee's at the zoo (really just to show off my expanding belly).

Looking over the Arabian Gulf. The building in the background is the Emirates Palace- actually hotel- but in the UAE everything has to be the best so not only is most everything inside gilded, but the word "hotel" just wouldn't work.

Isaac and Sophie in the bubble at the aquarium.

Dubai Museum which had an unusually high amount of poorly taxidermied birds.

Dubai Creek with downtown in the background. The tall pointy thing will be the tallest building in the world when completed, but they haven't said exactly just how high in case someone tries to beat them out.

Overall this was a great trip. The UAE is a interesting mix of very old world meets new futuristic world. Most of the country in under construction as they have plans to spend every last dime of their oil money and make the country the premier tourist destination in the world. We had a great time. Thanks a bunch Scott and Sophie!