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Showing posts from September, 2023

Camel Milk

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  So, we finally tried camel milk!  I have to say, we both thought it was quite similar to cow’s milk, slightly sweeter.  Not rushing out to buy more but glad we tried it.  I wonder what creative mixed drinks one could concoct . . .  .  White Russian Camel anyone?  Camelicious!

Where are we?

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So, I think we take for granted that everyone knows where we are in the world. Thought it might be helpful to show our location on some maps.  Above, I have drawn a red X over Dubai. As you can see, we are in the very middle of the Middle East, technically a part of Asia. We are driving distance to Saudi Arabia whose capital Riyadh is only a 50 minute flight. Qatar is so close that sports fans stayed in Dubai hotels and took day flights to the World Cup games last year.  Tehran is a quick 2 hour flight, definitely not on our bucket list (don’t worry everyone!).  In fact, the Iranian border is a mere 133 miles as the crow flies, across the Strait of Hormuz, shown in the satellite photo below . . . . Speaking of the Strait of Hormuz, it is only 21 miles wide and is considered one of the world’s most strategically important choke points. 25% of global oil consumption flows through this narrow spot, as well as 33% of all natural gas. It is the only passage from the Persian Gu...

Our Weekend in Dubai

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  Great relaxing weekend checking out some of our old (and new) spots.  Lunch today at Claw BBQ at Marina Beach. A little bit of home as the restaurant has an American beach bar theme.  As you can see from the photo above, I’m about to enjoy a bucket of assorted seafood. (It was awesome!).  Some photos below of the restaurant . . .   Look closely and you will see Julie at the bar   Giant margarita. Not for today! . . .  Some of our best friends from the neighborhood Dinner last night at Cinque, a  high end Italian restaurant on The Palm.  Below is my seafood soup A Lamborghini SUV.  It sounds a bit crazy but they actually started as a tractor company until Enzo Ferrari pissed off  Ferrucio Lamborghini . . .  Restaurant near the beach. I like the building but they don’t serve beer.  Never been there. Go figure . . .  The lower bar/restaurant at Bla Bla. Yes, we finally made it there!  Ha Ha! The temps are coming d...

Back in Dubai

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We’re back in Dubai now after spending much of our summer home in the US. The photo above was taken on the Palm Jumeira last weekend and overlooks part of the Dubai Marina skyline (where we live). This fountain is located along the boardwalk on West Beach, where many of our beach clubs and restaurants can be found. The word “Nakheel” is the name of the developer responsible for much of the Palm Jumeirah.  Early dinner at Lucky Fish last weekend. Given the extreme heat, the beach club restaurants like this one are serving indoors only. Below is our food and my rather unlucky fish . . . .  My favorite dish at our nearby restaurant Mama Zonia.  Black Widow Spider Tacos (made with fried soft shell crab).  The subsequent two photos show the cylindrical building where the restaurant is located about 100yds from our apartment building. It houses 7 restaurants and is referred to as Pier Seven (not to be confused with Pier One of Boothbay Harbor fame!) Another one of our fave...

Summer in Maine

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  Well, so much for posting to the blog this summer!  We returned to Dubai a few days ago.  105F (41C) and full humidity, yikes!  Dubai has a population of 3 million people, 90% of whom come from somewhere else.  In the summer, they go back to their somewhere else.  Ours was Boothbay, Maine.  Julie worked remotely and we were able to reconnect with many friends and family. It feels like a back to school essay - “what I did on summer break”  Some highlights and interesting pics of the last 3 months . . . .  Baby deer seen near our Boothbay home The claw of a 4.5lbs (2kg) lobster and a very happy lobster eater Seals congregating on Seal Rock near our house Father’s Day weekend. Lunch via boat at Coveside restaurant View from our porch where much time was spent Lobby of the Copley Plaza hotel in Boston. Below is the outside view next to the John Hancock tower.  Hundreds of oyster shells to be used as place settings at John & Mack’s wedd...