National Day

Well today is Dubai's 40th birthday, National Day, so it is of course a holiday weekend. I have Thursday-Sunday "off" but of course the malls will be busy so I will have to go in and visit stores, but overall, it's a very relaxing weekend. The weather is amazing- 80degrees with a cool breeze off the gulf.
With the weather change, I'm going to try something new.
Yesterday my rental car came due and rather than reknewing it, I turned it in and took the metro home. Next week Wednesday I fly to Istanbul for a week then 1 day back in Dubai then I'm in the US for Holiday. So with all that travel, and the nice weather, I am going to try mass transit for my time in Dubai. That means alot of walking as the metro station is 3/4 mile from my apartment, then only 1 of the mall is actually attached to the metro line. Looking at my self in the mirror the other morning though, I need to get walking more.
Last night, with no car, I walked from my house over to the Marina Mall- about 1 1/2 miles. It was a gorgeous night, and it was actually almost too warm to be wearing a hoodie. Today I took the metro down to Mall of Emirates, did my store visit, got lunch, and then metro'd it back to Jumeriah. So I think this might work out. :-)

With it being National day too- people go all out with their National colors. Cars wrapped in green, red, black saran wrap or painted with UAE slogan's or flags, everyone's wearing pins or scarves. The malls, grocery stores, even my building is all about the decorations. It's similiar to what you see around the fourth of July. I just never had been in a foreign country when they have their independence day- so took me a minute to make that connection.

My store in Jordan opened up yesterday to great reviews. The staff are so good, and the store looked great- so all the executive team were very pleased. I didn't get to fly back because.... well, I'm tired. I just want to be in Dubai for a week and relax. I think that's part of my belly-bulge is from all the hotel living and eating on the go. Already being in Dubai for 4 days now, I'm already feeling healthier and more relaxed.

I have a new morning ritual- make a pot of coffee, grab my new book and reading on my balcony for an hour or so while the city wakes up. It is the best. I love my views from my apartment. Every day that I have been back I make sure to open my curtains first thing in the morning and open the windows and doors. It's like "hello world!" It's a good thing. :-)

Pictures: Views from my balcony when I'm sitting out reading. View from my bed- sometimes it's so nice and cool in the morning I just crawl back into bed and gaze out at the city- so peaceful.