WOW! Day 2

A drive through the city showing where we stayed when we first arrived then our old apartment found us out at the Grand Mosque for a tour.  Wow!  All that glitters  is gold out there so after a suitably impressive tour and many photographs (all obviously on Pam's camera as I don't have any) we spy the new Carlton Ritz Hotel across the road.

If only driving here was as easy as spying!  It seemed like an age later when I finally pulled into their underground carpark (after being stopped and given directions by a turban wearing guard looking like something out of the Arabian Nights story books of our childhood).

Another Wow moment as we enter the foyer of this magnificent hotel.  It has only opened this week so I didn't know anyone who had been there yet.  We are assisted by a staff member and escorted to a bar where we can get a cup of tea or coffee.

After being seated in opulent surroundings we order a 'high tea' for two.  Opting for the pink bubbly choice our tiered cake stand arrives with two of everything on it.  We are treated to an impressive selection of scrumptious sweet and savoury morsels.  The icing on the cake were the chocolate dipped strawberries decorated to look like they were wearing a tuxedo.  A glass of purple sparkling grape juice finished off our feast nicely.

We were the only women in the 'bar' at that time, around 6pm.  There were several gorups of Arabic men meeting for coffee but generally the place was quiet.  On the way out we checked out the other bar where they serve alcohol.  All decked out in red and black I'm sure it will become a popular nightspot.

Before leaving we checked out the front entrance and stood mesmerized by the constant arrival of luxury cars and locals.  Kids dressed in formal white dresses and kandora sat waiting while sharing out chocolates.  Enjoying our few moments of being with the rich and famous we descended the marble staircase as if we were royalty.  I can only imagine how local woman do that in their high heels and trailing long dresses.  Checking out the many varied restaurants on offer we wandered outside as if we were guests.  Night had descended while we were indoors and the pool area was bathed in light.  We walked around the impressive pool and down to the beach where we sat on a lounger and enjoyed the ambience while gazing across the canal to equally impressive hotels.  One aspect of living here that I love is the fact that you can do anything and go anywhere, especially if you waltz in as if it is your right.

Our evening ended with us at the hospital getting some medicine for me as I had coughed all day and was feeling lousy.  A diagnosis of bronchitis wasn't what I wanted to hear two days before our big trip.  So suitably doped up I head to bed to try and shake it off!  Here's hoping...