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<\/a><\/p>\nOur plan was to ride the ferry from Dubai Creek all the way to Dubai Marina and see the city skyline from the water. \u00a0We boarded the ferry and were surprised by how modern and new the catamaran was. \u00a0There was comfortable seating for 100 passengers in a large air conditioned cabin with video screens. \u00a0There were a dozen first class seats near the bow and an outdoor standing area.<\/p>\n
The ride in the Arabian Sea was smooth and pleasant, but unfortunately the sky was hazy with poor visibility. \u00a0We wondered about air pollution. \u00a0Our first stop was the Dubai Canal near Jumeirah Beach. \u00a0One of the crew members said that many tourists get off there and take another ferry along the canal through the city and back to Dubai Creek.<\/p>\n We continued to the next and last stop on the ferry, which was Dubai Marina. \u00a0This is another new section of Dubai which is developing rapidly. \u00a0Like all the other desert cities, there was construction everywhere!<\/p>\n This was like another city with many clustered high-rise buildings some distance from Downtown Dubai. \u00a0There was a large ferris wheel at the entrance to the harbor.<\/p>\n The ferry continued into the narrow inlet to the dock and we got off.<\/p>\n We had to return to the Hyatt by in time for the afternoon’s activities. \u00a0We walked to the metro station to take the mono-rail which runs between Dubai Marina and the Creek near our hotel.<\/p>\n Dubai has an excellent public transportation system which services a large part of the city. \u00a0The mono-rail portion is above ground and then it connects to an underground part near Dubai Creek. \u00a0It was clean, quiet, safe, and fun to ride!<\/p>\n The entertainment for the evening was riding over the desert in 4X4 vehicles. \u00a0It was a lot of fun! \u00a0And we held on as the driver negotiated the car over tall sand dunes. \u00a0We passed this man on a camel waving his cell phone:<\/p>\n The 4X4 #3 Team:<\/p>\n We passed several herds of Arabian Oryxes and tried to take photos of them:<\/p>\n After 40 minutes of twisting, turning, skidding, and climbing up and down sand dunes, we arrived at a desert oasis set up for us complete with champaign and strawberries. \u00a0I’m sure nomadic life was never this good!<\/p>\n Linda and I posed for desert photos:<\/p>\n We watched the sun go down over the dunes and then we all drove to the base camp for dinner and entertainment.<\/p>\n The camp was set up with camel rides, apple hookahs, henna painting, an open bar, desert souvenirs, and a buffet Middle-Eastern dinner. \u00a0Music played while we sat on cushions at low tables:<\/p>\n The evening’s entertainment was a “Whirling Dervish” and a Belly Dancer. \u00a0Both were excellent and we all had a fun time!!<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n