I was able to go see Louvre Abu Dhabi: The BILLION Dollar Museum right after I arrived in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), but since then I have been teaching each day of the Sunday through Thursday workweek they practice out this way. Today, I had the chance to get out on the water courtesy of the good folks at The Yellow Boats who have a 90 minute tour to see Abu Dhabi from water level that I signed up for. I made it to the marina and met up with Capt. Dan and our RIB (Rigid Inflatable Boat).
We got all loaded up and go out into the Arabian Gulf and looked back on the harbor we left from where you could really see the smog of Abu Dhabi.
First sight is the UAE Presidential Palace that is nearing completion.
I think I remember Capt. Dan saying they have already spend over $5 billion on this massive complex!! As you can see in that last picture we then saw some of the newer, more Dubai-ish looking, skyscrapers. Again, notice the heavy smog.
When pushed on and went under the Bridge to Nowhere (what it might be going to someday), more wild architecture, and many super gigantic waterfront homes owned by rich sheiks.
We were event greeted by some humpback dolphins although the only picture I was able to capture was not all that good.
We then saw, from a distance & from two different points along the way, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque which I am looking forward to see up close and personal before I leave Abu Dhabi.
That took us to near our turnaround point on this out-and-back boat trip; the Al Maqta Tower.
Capt. Dan took ANOTHER one of his fun sharp turns and we started heading back to where we started from.
Unfortunately, we lost of our two engines on the way back and how to putter with the remaining engine at less than 50% power being applied. Needless to say, that powerful sun in our faces was taking its toll. Fortunately, we got to take a few more photos of the skyscraper as we crawled past again as well as the iconic Atlantis hotel as we got closer to the harbor.
Finally, I present a shot of the Emirates Palace Hotel that he marina belongs to.
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