Family Weekend

We finally got to head to Abu Dhabi to spend the weekend with Heather, Cory, and Blue!  We left straight from school and got there early enough for some quality time with the grandpuppy....

Blue was a little excited....and I got the tail end.... :)

Then it was time to head to dinner.....for MEXICAN!  I was in heaven.  Delicious food, great company!  They surprised us at the end by bringing out a birthday treat for Kim.  Apparently, we had toasted "Happy Birthday" to him soon after we got there....and someone was listening!  ha-ha!  It was a tasty delight for all of us!

Surprise!!

Friday morning we took Blue to the beach for some exercise time and then went back to clean up and take in a brunch.

Wonder how long I can keep my daddy throwing this thing??!!

Tuck that tail and RUN!!!

Now, where's my ball??

The brunch was at One-to-One, which covered 3 levels of food, buffet style.  You could fill up your plate at any of the three restaurants and then head back to the table to scarf it up.  There was so much food I knew I could be miserable if I let myself.  So, I paced myself for the next 3 hours and managed to eat all I wanted without becoming overly stuffed!  We all surfed for exactly what we wanted....salads, breads, soups, seafood, sushi, steak, lamb, vegetables, fruits, and...of course....desserts of all kinds!

At the start of our marathon....

After "brunch," Heather and I pampered ourselves for a couple of hours at the spa and then we headed back to their apartment to relax for the evening.  Kim and Cory took in a martial arts fight that Cory got tickets to.  Apparently, there was even a fight with women....woo-hoo....NOT!

Saturday morning, Cory fixed omelets and then we headed to the Corniche to enjoy the beach.

Sunrise view from Heather and Cory's apartment

We didn't realize there was a triathlon going on, so we had to listen to the announcer give a play-by-play as we enjoyed the beach.  He was a little annoying, but the view made it bearable....ha-ha!!

View of Abu Dhabi looking back from the beach

Too cold to submerge!

Some boat action....Interesting to see the sand dunes in the distance behind the water...

People sight-seeing over the beach....an irritating noise!!

Looking across the water from our chairs

The water was freezing cold.  It's hard to understand how the water can be so cold when the weather stays so warm here.  I guess it has to do with the currents coming in from the Indian Ocean to the Arabian Sea and then into the Gulf.  I need to study a map to look at that!

We bought some yogurt from a little stand on the beach with fresh cut fruit (kiwi, strawberries, and mango) that was to die for!  I'm a new convert to the taste!

Finally, Kim and I had to head back home to Al Ain.....BUT we definitely plan to visit again soon!  :)