We got some breakfast and then hit the sack for some sleep. The sleep was much better as the bed did not suffer from turbulence. We woke up around 1PM Dubai time and took a long walk to Saffa Park. We saw 9 new birds for the life list as well as many families in the park enjoying the Friday day of worship. Two adolescent girls came up to us and complemented Leslie on how beautiful she was. One of them was videoing us on her phone and we told them the "we discovered that our fancy clothes will not get out of the closet unless we take them out" philosophy. We got back to the hotel and it was close to 5 pm. We took a shower and then headed up to the 71st floor to "The Vault" for a cocktail. Monkey 47 was a new gin for us. We walked in and smelled stale smoke and the bartender told us that smoking was allowed in the bar. We had hoped that we could get a quick drink and enjoy the view from the 71st floor. No sooner had we ordered than a patron lit up a cigarette right next to us. There was no escaping the smoke and we had to leave the bar. This was the most expensive bar on a per minute basis that we have ever been to. We took our drinks with us down to the 68th floor where the entrance to the bar is located. We were not allowed to go any further with them and so they found us a table at the restaurant next door. We sat there for 10 minutes and sipped in peace. On the elevator ride down we got to talking to the executive chef of the entire building. He was delightful and it turned out that he was from Madrid. He gave us his card in case we wanted any restaurant recommendations. He presented his card in the traditional way one would in Japan. He learned that when he was in Korea and it is a habit that he continues to use. We had dinner next and then back to the room for some sleep before we had to get up at 3:30 AM. It is a good thing that our bodies are still on New Zealand time!
Off we go on a walk
The Marriott towers
Lots of rules for the walkway
Sleek and tall, tall, tall
A rock pigeon
The temperature was quite pleasant and there was a breeze off the water
Team Leip is in Dubai
Lots of room to walk
Our bridge to the side of the canal where the park is located
Another pedestrian bridge over the canal
A fun building at the entrance to the park
A white eared bulbul
House Crow
Eurasian Collared Dove
Launching itself into the air, this five striped palm squirrel is a recent invader
In the park we get a feel of a desert oasis
The Purple Sunbird female is green and yellow and teeny tiny
An Indian Roller
Rose Ringed Parakeets
Nice place to perch
Looking back to the hotel on our walk
Black headed gulls
The tallest tower in the world
For the men's room
For the ladies' room
A large kayak on the canal
A "scarecrow" construction worker
Later in the day the refections off of the buildings
Monkey 47 Gin is definitely a new gin for us
They must keep the really expensive stuff behind bars
In keeping with the Vault theme these huge doors were brought up to the 72nd floor
Dubai at night
Sparkling with lights
The highway into the desert
We have our drinks
Juniper berries floating in the Gin and Tonic
Bottles stored above the bar on these shelves
