Afternoon at the Creek

On Saturday, after a morning at the beach and swimming in the Gulf of Arabia (how exotic!) we went to meet Pete and Roisin at the Bayt al Wakeel Restaurant at the Creek. The restaurant was very traditional, right on the water, and they kept bringing us plates piled high with delicious food until we could eat no more! Then we went on a boat trip up and down the creek on a little wooden boat which had a central seat like a bench. We saw the sun setting which silhouetted the mosques and boats and birds flitting and swooping about, it was very pretty. Then we crossed the river on another little boat and visited the Gold Souk. So much gold all in one place! Cat and I both got Palm-shaped charms for our bracelets in honour of the Dubai Palm where our hotel is situated. The Palm is a man made peninsula, and as its name would suggest it’s in the shape of a palm leaf with its fronds. It’s a weird thought that the location of our lovely hotel used to be nothing but water. Back across the river we went (on another little boat, this time I was overly confident when stepping into it and lost my balance, almost ending up in the creek!) and found our car, unfortunately we took a wrong turning in the dark which made us a bit late to meet Pete and Roisin at our hotel. It actually amazes me that Ally and Cat manage to find their way so well around the busy and bewildering roads of Dubai. Some of the roads have six lanes each way! I only recognise where we are when we are on the Sheik Zahed Road leads all the way to the Palm. Pete and Roisin were very gracious about our delay and we went to the Miss India Restaurant where we had a delicious meal and a very convivial evening sitting outside in the warm darkness, lit by little table lights and the stars above us on the black sky.