Days 12 and 13: Kuwait, and back home

January 26: Kuwait

The last day of our trip was a post-cruise day in Kuwait City, the capital of Kuwait.  To get there, we had a morning flight on FlyDubai.

At the Dubai airport--a Big Mac meal is about $10.00

Part of the FlyDubai fleet

Terminal 3 at Dubai Airport, the 3rd largest building (by floor area) in the world

Flying into Kuwait City

Another aerial view of Kuwait City

When we arrived in Kuwait, it was raining, albeit very lightly,  We discovered that FlyDubai uses the (very nice) general aviation terminal at Kuwait airport.  This meant that there were no taxis available, and we wound up taking a limo, which cost about 3 times what a taxi would have.

General aviation terminal at Kuwait Airport

We stayed at the Grand Majestic Hotel, which occupied the top 10 floors of a building in Kuwait City.  While not entirely majestic, it was still very nice.

Our grand, if not majestic, room

Kuwait is one of the richest countries in the world, but Kuwait City was not as spectacular as Dubai or Doha.

View from our hotel room

Another view from the hotel

Since we only had part of one day in Kuwait, we immediately ventured out to walk the streets of Kuwait City.  Among other things, we discovered that Kuwait was more conservative than the UAE or Qatar.  Alcohol (not that we needed it) was unavailable anywhere, even in our hotel.  We also discovered that Kuwait has virtually no tourism.  We actually tried to book a day tour of Kuwait city, but there were no tours available.

The street outside our hotel

A little further down the street

Liberation Tower, which symbolizes Kuwait's liberation from Iraq. 

A few impressive buildings in downtown Kuwait City

The Grand Mosque

Sief Palace (where the emir lives)

An impressive skyscraper, near the mosque

Apartment buildings and a gas station

We continued walking toward the Kuwait Towers, a major tourist attraction (if there were tourists).

Along Arabian Gulf Street

Unfortunately, after about an hour of walking, we still hadn't found the Kuwait Towers.  If we had, they would look like the picture below.

Having given up on the Towers, we took a taxi back to the hotel.

Nighttime view from the hotel

January 27-28: London, and home

The next day, we flew to London, where we overnighted near Heathrow Airport.

Departing Kuwait city

The desert, just outside Kuwait City

A British town near Heathrow

Miami, Barcelona, Los Angeles, Melbourne, New York and Raleigh-Durham(!)

Day 11: Back in Dubai

January 25: Dubai

We docked in Dubai on January 25, but didn't have to leave the ship until the next day, so we had a free day in Dubai.  Our plan for the afternoon was to have lunch at the Burj Al Arab hotel.  What we really wanted to do was visit the inside of the hotel, but you either have to be staying there or eating there to get in the front door.  Since we didn't want to exchange our already paid for ship cabin for a $1,000 hotel room, having lunch there was the cheapest (at about $60 per person) option.

Since our lunch reservation wasn't until 1:00 we had to occupy the morning, which we did by visiting the old quarter of Dubai, including the Dubai Museum.

View of the Dubai business district from our ship, with the QE II in the foreground

At the Dubai Museum

In the courtyard of the museum

Paan is a combination of betel leaf and areca nut.  I didn't try it.

The flower shop district, near the museum

From the museum, we walked to the Al Fahidi Historical Neighborhood, which dates back to the 1890's.

Al Fahidi Historical Neighborhood

A wind tower, which draws cooler air into buildings

The historical area borders on Dubai Creek, which runs through the city.

The modern building is across the creek

From there, we headed to the Burj Al Arab.  Along the way, we passed by the Etihad Museum, which apparently serves as the basis for (or was inspired by) the Louisville Cardinals mascot.

Coincidence?  I think not....

Eventually, we arrived at the Burj al Arab.

Jumeirah Beach Hotel, next door to the Burj Al Arab

Our lunch was at the pool restaurant at the hotel.  Highlights included a $40 cheeseburger and a $20 ice cream sundae (almost worth it).

Free breadsticks

$40 cheeseburger

$20 sundae

A wider view

Hotel pool

View from the rear of the hotel 

View of central Dubai (including the Burj Khalifa) from the hotel

Finally, we went inside the hotel.  This was my second visit, but Brenda's first.  I'm pleased to say that the interior was every bit as tacky as I remembered.

In the lobby

For your shopping pleasure

Understated elevators

Looking up from the lobby

Public bathroom

Local vehicles, with the Jumeirah Beach Hotel in the background

From the hotel, we walked to the Madinat Jumeirah, a shopping/hotel/resort complex designed to look like an old Arabian marketplace.

Exterior of Madinat Jumeirah

Interior of the shopping area

So much for any prohibition on alcohol

Madinat Jumeirah in foreground and Burj Al Arab in the background

From there, we went back to the ship to have dinner and pack for our departure for Kuwait the next day.


Next: Days 12 and 13  -- Kuwait, and back home