What can I say about this very special place? The Corniche is an 8km stretch along the waterfront in the heart of Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi is the capitol of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). There are seven Emirates in the UAE, which I will discuss in another post. lived within walking distance and every morning I would take an hour long walk in the darkness and the dawn. Sometimes I would swim a few hundred meters. Great way to start the day. At one end of the Corniche you will find outstanding fresh fruit, vegetable and seafood markets. On the other end the other worldly Emirates Palace and Qasr al Watan.
Our twins in front of the public Corniche beach. There are many sections of beaches. Some have restaurants and coffee shops nearby. Others have nice grassy areas with palm trees. There is a wide walkway that is often filled with bicycles, walkers, families, electrical scooters and more. On fridays, which is the holy day many of the expat laborers crowd the beaches. Most stretches of the beach are free. Uniquely there are also family beaches that cost less than three dollars to enter. With two-thirds of the residents in the country being males, this kind of strategy makes it more comfortable for many. In the background, the two towers to the right with slanted roofs are the World Trade Center buildings, which have apartments, a upscale market, restaurants and many shops.In this photo, Marina Mall is in the background with a ferris wheel in front. The view from there is nice. At the top of the tower is a 360 degree restaurant. Across from the Corniche is a cultural center that celebrates Emirati culture. The view is spectacular. One of my favorite bicycle destinations.This is a view of the sensational national palace where the congress meets. It is called, “Qasr al Watan” and is more spectacular inside than out. I took this photo from a jetski if my memory is clear.My little boy loved Corniche Beach. I cannot imagine a safer city in which to raise children.I finally learned how to paddleboardSpectacular sunsetsThis is just a cool photo while walking the twins. Love the colors.Beautiful sunsets were common as sometimes you don’t see rain for an entire year. I believe the flagpole is one of the tallest in the world.The UAE has gone from a desert country to one of the most modern countries in the world. I enjoyed the mixing of old and new as with this wooden dhow in front of ultra modern buildings.My special bicycle On the left you have the massive ADNOC (Abu Dhabi National Oil Company) building. On the right you have the Etihad Towers and some luxury hotels.The parks are immaculately groomedThis is shot from the Radisson Blue Hotel. You can pay a fee for a day pass. Notice the shisha pipe on the left. Shisha is ever present.The Emirates Palace, where you can enter for free to one of the most opulent buildings in the world. I have includef this here as it is located at the end of the Corniche.The Founder’s memorial in the foreground honoring Sheik Zayed, the father of the country and The Etihad Towers behind.Corniche Road at nightCorniche Road day time
Writing this makes me wonder why I ever left. More on Abu Dhabi and the UAE soon.
The church doesn’t want to kill the rats so they trap them and release them far away, but the next day they are back.
Next they try ask them politely to leave, still they won’t budge.
Finally the priest has one last idea, he baptized all the rats.
Now they only come at Christmas and Easter.
man walked into a bar. He sat down and asked the bar tender “If I impress you, can I have a free drink?”. The bar tender said sure, so the man reached in his pocket and pulled out a tiny piano. He then pulled out a small rat and set it by the piano. It crawled on to the bench and began playing
music. The bar tender was amazed, so he gave the man a beer. Next, the man said “If I impress you even more, can I have free drinks for life?”. The bar tender didn’t think it was possible, so he agreed. The man pulled a frog out of his pocket, and it began to sing by the piano. The bar tender smiled and told the man that he was impressed. A man in a suit with a cane walked into the bar, saw the small animals, and offered to buy them for $2 million. The owner said no, but he offered to sell the frog for $500k. The rich man agreed, took the frog, and left. The bar tender couldn’t believe the owner just did that and said “Why did you just sell the frog?! There is no singing now!”. The owner laughed and said “Don’t worry; the rat is a ventriloquist!”.
Two professors of economics were walking down a road when they saw a dead rat.
The older one said – “If you eat this, I’ll pay you ₹10,000”. The younger one makes a quick cost-benefit analysis and finally eats the rat.
The younger professor experiences a bad after-taste and wants the older professor to experience the same. When he sees another dead rat on the road, he dares the professor to eat it in exchange for the old ₹10,000. The senior professor, eager to recover his reckless bet, eats it.
After a few minutes of walking silently, the younger professor finally says – “Looks like we’ve been eating dead rats for free.”
The older professor remarks, “But don’t forget we just added ₹ 20,000 to the GDP!”
Jim's Travel Culture and History Blog 
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Shukran, Sadik!
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http://www.craigstravelblogg.wordpress.com
Hi Jim
Thanks for the follow and all the best with your blog
craig
for your entertainment in social isolation/hibernation
https://creativekiwis.wordpress.com/2020/04/05/im-in-hibernation/
A church has a rat problem
The church doesn’t want to kill the rats so they trap them and release them far away, but the next day they are back.
Next they try ask them politely to leave, still they won’t budge.
Finally the priest has one last idea, he baptized all the rats.
Now they only come at Christmas and Easter.
man walked into a bar. He sat down and asked the bar tender “If I impress you, can I have a free drink?”. The bar tender said sure, so the man reached in his pocket and pulled out a tiny piano. He then pulled out a small rat and set it by the piano. It crawled on to the bench and began playing
music. The bar tender was amazed, so he gave the man a beer. Next, the man said “If I impress you even more, can I have free drinks for life?”. The bar tender didn’t think it was possible, so he agreed. The man pulled a frog out of his pocket, and it began to sing by the piano. The bar tender smiled and told the man that he was impressed. A man in a suit with a cane walked into the bar, saw the small animals, and offered to buy them for $2 million. The owner said no, but he offered to sell the frog for $500k. The rich man agreed, took the frog, and left. The bar tender couldn’t believe the owner just did that and said “Why did you just sell the frog?! There is no singing now!”. The owner laughed and said “Don’t worry; the rat is a ventriloquist!”.
Two professors of economics were walking down a road when they saw a dead rat.
The older one said – “If you eat this, I’ll pay you ₹10,000”. The younger one makes a quick cost-benefit analysis and finally eats the rat.
The younger professor experiences a bad after-taste and wants the older professor to experience the same. When he sees another dead rat on the road, he dares the professor to eat it in exchange for the old ₹10,000. The senior professor, eager to recover his reckless bet, eats it.
After a few minutes of walking silently, the younger professor finally says – “Looks like we’ve been eating dead rats for free.”
The older professor remarks, “But don’t forget we just added ₹ 20,000 to the GDP!”
RATS!
from
https://upjoke.com/rat-jokes
##############
PART II
Thanks for the follow and all the best with your blog
“the totally unmusical pie piper”
Shared by “early bird” (very) * craig
* my “best” time (by far)
“Information and Inspiration Distributer, Incorrigible Encourager and People-builder” *
* not bridges (thank goodness)!
Well my family and friends say I’m “safest” just writing and sharing
Still
Driven to share, uplift, encourage and (perhaps even) inspire
“Live each day as if it’s your last…
and one day you’ll be right!
PS
So it may be better and safer for you following the rats!
PPS
Don’t worry about the world ending today…
it’s already tomorrow in scenic and tranquil ‘little’ New Zealand
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Some funny stories!!
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