Dubai day 2

Had a lovely evening last night. Jo and I had dinner in the Chinese restaurant of our hotel. It was a bit pricey but a very nice meal. Staff were exceptionally attentive and as there was only 1 other couple who came in after us, we certainly didn't lack service. Then in a taxi to meet Craig and a bit of a wander through Souk Medinat which was just fantastic. Hardly anyone about at all so we were able to stroll about at our leisure. Then to a bar for a drink. Craig wasn't happy as the prices had gone up since he had last been there but we didn't know any better and while he and Jo were discussing the herbaceousness of certain white wines I happened to add my little gem that I'm more than happy to drink alcohol through a dirty sock if I get thirsty enough! Don't think I'm about to be invited to join any wine connissour clubs any time soon.
So after that drink and a bit more of a wander we ended up at another bar where this time I ordered a double scotch! No messing about with wondering what side of the hill the malt barley was grown on for this little black duck!!! It really was a lovely evening and all too soon we decided to call it quits and head back to the hotel. Haven't really suffered from jet lag but 11 pm was late enough after such a full day.
Up in the morning at 7 and then breakfast so that we were ready for our pick up for a half day Dubai city sights tour. Bit annoying that we had an hour long wait but the hotel foyer staff were very attentive and rang the tour operators a couple of times for us which was really good of them. Anyway first stop was the Dubai museum but we only had half an hour there which was barely long enough.

Then to the Gold Souk where Jo bought herself a chain. Again, not nearly long enough of only half an hour again. Parts of it very much reminded me of the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul. Certainly many of the men trying to convince you to go into their shops and endless offers of fake designer handbags was enough to set my teeth on edge.

 Jumeira public beach has beautiful white sands but in 45 degrees heat all I wanted to do was take a photo and didn't even venture off the footpath as I figured the sand would be boiling hot. Some nice photo opportunites and a short stop near the Jumeriah mosque, drove past Sheik Mohamed's palace (imagine 3 Williamson Tce but with a big cement fence and a guard gate) and then around the Palm
area.

Have to freely admit that Craig did a much better tour job yesterday than this one turned out to be. However it was still okay.
There were only about a dozen on the tour and all Aussies, but even with such a small group and for no more than 4 hours together we still had to deal with some right rare numpties. One woman grabbed up from the counter one of the gold chains that the sales fellow had put out for Jo to look at and after Jo did most of the haggling, the blasted woman kept hold of the chain and bought it for herself. Just as well Jo didn't have her heart set on that particular chain. As you would all know, I am a very patient, kind, considerate and softly spoken shrinking violet.  Yeah, okay, who am I kidding???? Well my point is that when this bird grabbed up the chain from in front of Jo I walked away! Yes, that's right dear armchair travellers, I walked away and never said a word to that dosey   woman!!! Should I have opened my gob, it would have gotten ugly. So crisis averted and Jo still got the chain she really wanted.
On the coach we had an older couple come and sit in front of us part way through the tour. The man promptly pushes his seat back so that Jo can hardly get out of her seat each time we stopped. I put up with it for a couple of stops but eventually had to ask the old fart to please put his seat forward as he was almost sitting on our laps. A lass sitting opposite him helped him right his seat and thereby ensured our second crisis was averted.
When we got towards the end of the tour we were asked if we wanted to be dropped off at the Dubai Mall or back at our hotels. I opted for the former as I probably wouldn't have been able to avoid a third crisis and come out unscathed at the end... So I wandered about the world's largest mall fo a couple of hours, found the food court that was behind screens so that all good Muslims couldn't see the great unwashed infidels eating, had lunch, wandered some more and then caught a taxi back to the hotel to find that poor Jo had only arrived back about half an hour earlier after doing all the hotel drop offs at the end of the tour.
So enough time for a cuppa and custard strudels I bought at the mall, time to pen these lines but no time to mess about trying to put photos on at this stage and we will now be off to Dubai Mall again with Craig as we head for the Burj Khalifa 'At The Top'.
Another great day in Dubai...