Cruising the Arabian Gulf - REVISITED

a trip by Chris hodgson
From: March 25th 2014
Until: April 16th 2014

2 years ago Roisin and I were lucky enough to cruise from Genoa in Italy to Abu Dhabi in the Arabian Gulf via the Suez Canal. From pirates to dish-dashers, the adventure was certainly a once ion a lifetime experience. However, during a visit to some port or other, Roisin must have approached one of those 'rub its belly and you'll return to this place' statues. Whilst I wasn't looking I'm sure Roisin had a 'go' although she must have rubbed the statue up the wrong way!! I don't mean in a provoking anger sort of way but rubbed the statue anti-clockwise!! Not that I'm superstitious or anything but it's obviously worked for we ARE returning to the lands of Frankincense, Ferrari world and feckin' taxi drivers!! However, not in the footsteps of our last trip but this time we're starting in Dubai and returning to Europe, t'other way round. We spend 2 days in Dubai last time and only saw a fraction of the city. Since then our 'must see' list has grown bigger. We will stay for 3 days in Dubai before embarking the ship. Among other things we plan on sailing down the creek in a dhow, watching the dancing fountains outside the worlds tallest building, the Burj Khalifa and a trip to the Palm; the man made artificial island in the shape of a Palm.

The blog promises not to be a rehash our previous trip down the Red Sea (or is it up the Red Sea this time?!!). Some things will remain constant though; the MSC Lirica, Trivia and Bingo in about 8 languages and I'll probably have another rant about taxi drivers somewhere along the line but I hope you find the rest of the blog QI...no not Quietly Irritating!! Quite Interesting...

Our last break saw us in Moscow coping with temperatures of 20 below. This time is a massive contrast and it won't be unusual if we find ourselves in 35 degree heat plus. Whatever the temperature the blog must go on!
Trip Length: 3 weeks
Blog Entries: 14
Photos: 246
Words: 30937

Blog Entries

Date Blog Title Location
March 25th 2014 Ticket to Ride (Purple is the colour) Europe » United Kingdom » England » Greater London » Heathrow Airport
March 26th 2014 Hello, Dubai (and if the Rain comes!!) Middle East » United Arab Emirates » Dubai
March 27th 2014 Dubai a day in the Life (It's surreal!!) Middle East » United Arab Emirates » Dubai
March 28th 2014 Lightening struck twice but the sun still shines! Middle East » United Arab Emirates » Dubai
March 30th 2014 Abu Dhabi taxis beware, the Hodgsons are back! Middle East » United Arab Emirates » Abu Dhabi
April 1st 2014 Khor Fakkan (Fakkan heaven or Fakkan Hell?) Middle East » United Arab Emirates » Sharjah
April 2nd 2014 Muscat: 20,000 worshippers under the sun! Middle East » Oman » Muscat » Muttrah
April 4th 2014 Doh-rae-mi- Salalah-ti-DOH!!! Middle East » Oman » Dhofar
April 8th 2014 Gliding and sliding up the Red Sea Oceans and Seas » Indian » Red Sea
April 9th 2014 Aqaba where the flies swarm around in their 1000s Middle East » Jordan » South » Aqaba
April 10th 2014 From Red to Med - the Suez Canal Oceans and Seas » Indian » Red Sea
April 13th 2014 Crete - a myth? Unless you drive in walk mode! Europe » Greece » Crete » Heraklion
April 15th 2014 The disappearance of Vesuvio (under a cloud) Europe » Italy » Campania » Naples
April 16th 2014 Going Home not alarmed..(unlike Euston!!) Europe » United Kingdom » England » Greater London
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