Abu Dhabi Layover

Traveling from Casablanca to Johannesburg included a quick overnight stop in Abu Dhabi.  For me, whatever Abu Dhabi lacks in history is overshadowed by mystique.  Landing there at night is always fun because the city is dotted with green lights that identify the mosques.  

Even though it was almost midnight when I arrived, I still felt a heavy punch of humidity as soon as I walked out of the airport terminal.  How can people tolerate this weather?  It's almost as bad as a Chicago winter. 

For this layover, I opted for a hotel that was close to the airport.  I literally just needed to sleep as quickly as possible - especially after such a late night in Casablanca the day prior.  

I woke up the next morning and peered out of the window.  It was funny to see a tiny trench next to the hotel, which I assume is supposed to mimic a pond.  There was even a little beach for hotel guests to enjoy the "waterfront" location!

Waterfront property in Abu Dhabi? 

The United Arab Emirates is such a funny country.  Cities like Dubai and Abu Dhabi just appear in the middle of the desert with such elaborate displays of wealth.  Buildings are all new and shiny, but it just seems like everything is designed with the sole intention of being "the most", "the biggest", or "the tallest".  I suppose it is a good strategy for attracting tourists in a place without any significant historical sites.    

I actually visited Abu Dhabi last year and stayed in a hotel that holds the record for the "world's furthest leaning man-made tower".  During the trip, I also visited the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, which is home to the largest carpet in the world.  I never would have believed that such a record could be achieved but it's an interesting discussion point nonetheless. 

The leaning tower of Pisa is nothing compared to this 18-degree  angle!

Here I am, standing on the largest carpet in the world!

My stop in Abu Dhabi may have only lasted 10 hours but it is always fun to experience a place that is still growing into its wealth.  This is definitely an area that I look forward to visiting again in five years because I can almost guarantee it will feel like an entirely different city.  Until then, I'll wait for new records to be broken...

Always yield to pedestrians in Abu Dhabi!

Layover Weekend

I have had some crazy flight itineraries in the past, but my trip from Zurich to Casablanca may be the most ridiculous ever.  From Zurich to Dusseldorf to Madrid to Casablanca, my trip included a 7-hour layover in Germany and an overnight stop in Spain.  I suppose I could have just purchased new flights when my schedule kept changing, but I felt badly about wasting company money.  The result: 4 countries in two days!

My first stop in Dusseldorf gave me the chance to actually explore the city beyond just the 26.2 miles I spent running through the streets a couple weeks earlier.  I put my luggage into storage and hopped on the first train into the city center.  Everywhere was buzzing with activity because there was a football game that afternoon.  It would have been even more exciting if I had people to watch the game with, but I still enjoyed the energy of the everyone around me. 

In my mind, one thing that distinguishes Germany from other European countries is the modern element of its cities.  Of course this is inevitable when everything is bombed during the wars, but it just feels slightly different than most other countries in Europe.  That said, Dusseldorf has really embraced some modern architectural designs – particularly with the Gehry buildings by the harbor. 

Streets look like other parts of Europe...only cleaner and newer

Cool architecture makes up for lack of old buildings in Dusseldorf!

I would love to know what these apartments look like from the inside...

One of my favorite aspects of European lifestyle is the extent to which people enjoy life in the city centers.  It seems like every Saturday, the main shopping districts are packed with residents and tourists alike.  There is no need for shopping malls or mega supermarkets because people are comfortable walking around without their cars.  Europeans like to spend hours at their local café that has been around for generations, rather than national chain restaurants.  In my opinion, the only American cities that rival this sense of urban community are Boston, San Francisco, and Washington DC.     

Just another day in paradise.

After a relaxing day in Dusseldorf, I returned to the airport and boarded my next flight to Madrid.  I hate to admit it but those flight attendants on Iberia just looked miserable.  You’d think that Spanish people who are lucky enough to have jobs would at least put on a smile for the half-filled planes!

My short time in Madrid almost felt like being back at home (in a strange way).  The warm weather was a welcome change from central Europe and it felt good to be able to communicate with the hotel driver in his local language.  Even though I only had enough time for a quick night of sleep and a jamon bocadillo for breakfast before heading back to the airport, it felt good to be back in Spain!  

Thank you, Spain, for not allowing these hideous shoes!