Al Mina Vegetable Souk

Onions!

Pau making friends...

Apartment Hunting

Looking at apartments here goes like this:

First, go see the security man at the front desk and ask for the keys to any available 3 bedroom apartments. 

Next, take the keys with you to the elevator and go up. 

Then use the keys to unlock the apartment door. 

Go inside and look at the views.

 

Mama will look in the bathrooms - the electricity (and water) is always turned off so it can be a little scary. 

I check out the closets. 

If the door handle breaks when you are trying to leave, make sure you have the business card of the leasing agent. When you call him, don't be discouraged that he laughs when you tell him that you are locked in. 
He'll send the building technician who will eventually let you out. 
In the meantime, look around. 

Have Pau check the acoustics.

If there's a pool or gym, take the elevator to that floor to see. 

You can't swim, even if you want to, because you don't live there yet. 

If there's a playground, PLAY!

When you are finished looking, go back down the elevator and give the keys back to the security guard. 

Drive to the next building. 

Repeat. 

Ad nauseum.

Digestion, Explained

Yas Island Ikea

Excited about the idea that we may soon have a house to live in, we took an exploratory trip to the local IKEA. It's located on Yas Island.

This is the IKEA sign in Arabic.

Andrés got to push his own cart while Papa controlled his urges to buy. The place was very similar to the IKEAS we've seen in the US, except for the prayer room and the meatballs.

We took the bus on the way home and got to see some interesting and very typical Abu Dhabi landscapes.

These are the local mangroves off the highway between the island of Abu Dhabi and Yas Island.

And this is the Saadiyat Island which is being developed as a cultural destination. You're looking at the new Guggenheim. If it looks like sand and nothingness, that's because it still is. . . under construction.

Morning on the Corniche

Our typical weekday schedule here in Abu Dhabi is:

Breakfast all together. Papa goes to work. We play a little while Mama packs our bag. Then we go out for a morning activity. This day we saw houses with our real estate agent and then took a walk on the Corniche, the beachside promenade that traces the northwestern shoreline of the island that is Abu Dhabi.

Morning outings require taking a taxi from our hotel to wherever we are going. Our hotel is awesome, but out of the way - and Abu Dhabi is NOT pedestrian friendly.

By the time we get to our destination. . . it's snack time!

Snack time seems like the only time Mama takes our picture. Maybe because it's the only time we're both sitting still!

Hotel Pool

The One That Got Away

This was an apartment that Mama and Papa really liked. We tried to get it, but the landlord decided to keep it for himself. I can see why.

Khalidiya Park

Abu Dhabi Mums

Feeling isolated in our hotel- and taxi-bound life, Mama took us to meet other expat families at a meeting of Abu Dhabi Mums for all age kids. There were a lot of fun toys but all of the kids were a lot younger than me so it wasn't too fun. Mama enjoyed chatting with other "mums" about housing and pediatricians and other details. 

Hopefully we can try the toddler group meeting some other time.

Pau Enjoys the Emirates Palace

We went to the Emirates Palace Hotel for a super fancy piece of cake, and to see the ornate place. The central dome is spectacular.

Pau especially liked the acoustics.

Maestro

There were terrible sandstorms in the region so we avoided going outside and entertained ourselves in true Abu Dhabi style. . . by spending the morning at the mall. 

I practiced piano.

Look, Ma, one hand!

Another Day, Another Mall

Because the sandstorms made the air so bad to breathe, Mama didn't want us to play outside so we went to the mall for the morning. We had snacks, walked around, and watched all the teenagers promenading.


High fashion.

The view from the entrance.

Papa's First Day at His New Job

He's so handsome!

Day 1 in Abu Dhabi

The cafe inside the Marina Mall

Picking a winner at the hypermarket Carrefour

All the meat, fish, and produce are labelled with where they come from.

Evening walk on the Corniche. Stopping to play with the feather grass.

Our Temporary Home

This is the view looking up from our hotel lobby.

And this is the view looking down from the 20th floor.

WOW!

World Tour WInter 2012: Boston > Abu Dhabi, Part II

Our flight from London to Abu Dhabi was even more posh than the previous flight. There was a free seat next to us so we ended up with a family pod of our own. Pau and I took over the two center seats and Mama and Papa had seats on either end. We were able to lie down flat and close of our "room" which was perfect for playing and for sleeping. We arrived to Abu Dhabi in style!

World Tour WInter 2012: Boston > Abu Dhabi, Part I

Checking in at Logan Airport.

5 checked suitcases

3 checked boxes

2 carryon suitcases

2 backpacks

2 carseats

2 strollers

4 humans

Pau enjoys the family room at the executive lounge before departure.

Flight #1: Boston > London Heathrow 

Papa and I slept lying down in our own seats. Mama and Pau shared a seat. . . they call them seats but they felt like beds to us! Business Class Rocks!