Dubai news

Hi there,

I am back with another general email.

I was until today busy trying to get my driving licence. Finally I got it today. Here the driving test is divided into 4 stages and I got it at the first attempt. Now I am able to go round Dubai and see more nice things. I am happier now!

Lat week I met a Lebanese/Brazilian who has a shop here; of course he sells Brazilian clothes that is why I met him, nice fellow by the way.

I went with a couple, friends of ours to the Hilton; its gardens are amazing, I had never seen such thing. It is quite expensive to spend the day there (on the beach) but it is worth paying, at least once just to see it.

There are other lovely places to go especially around the Creek where there are lots of terraces, and after 4pm it gets crowded with nice atmosphere, I really like to go there, I feel like in Venice (just a dream). The temperature has dropped to 25 at night, so that t-shirt is not enough. That is the good part.

The city is expensive if one wants to do the tourist route but after few days here we are learning where to go and have a nice evening.

I still Miss Accra especially its simplicity and the people there are closer than here, but I am sure I will survive, no wonder about that.

About the competition, it is going well at I least I think. I didn’t think that it could go that far so I am pleased with the result. Let’s wait until December and see what exactly will happen.

I am still going to my arts course and I have met quite some artist here. I might begin a course at the Alliance Française but I am not sure of that; it is quite far from our house and courses are in the evening.

We go to the beach every weekend and the water is warm and the sea is quiet. There are quite a lot of beach parks here and it has excellent facilities, but I miss my wine and the ladies to cook fish on the beach, too bad.

I will back soon with more news from Dubai. Have a good week and take care.

Greetings,

Regis

Hallo there

This is a general email to all that I care about. I promise to write a personal email after getting the answer from you.

I am finally in Dubai. I arrived here last Thursday (28/09) after my holiday in Brazil.

I had my first impression of the city from the plane and the view is really impressive. There is the desert, the city and the sea. The airport is huge and full of gold and a palm tree, alcohol at the duty free is cheap and available; every person is allowed to buy 4 bottles and take it home. Outside the airport I saw lots of people standing just like in Ghana but here there are no taxis pushing or people shouting offering things which is a pity I was used to bargain my own taxi

On the way home I saw all the famous building that I had seen on books and TV. The house is 30 minutes from the most famous building the BURJ AL ARAB hotel. As a view we have the desert, camels and the city; it is pretty calm and clean with lots of flowers and green areas. The temperature is going down and now is quite pleasant to walk outside; I am planning to start playing tennis next week. According to weather forecast here the nicest time to visit here is between November and May, I hope they are right. The shops are full with winter clothes and I am waiting for that. Here is dry and hot.

I am still busy with the house and it is nearly finished, I spent the weekend hanging paintings and trying to make it more comfortable. I need to hang up the curtains after that I am done.

I have visited some places and one can find everything here. Night life is amazing, bars beautifully decorated; the service is perfect and not expensive. People are from everywhere; I have also met a Brazilian friend from my home town (I used to teach chemistry to her brothers), she works as a manager at the four Season hotel. It is said that Dubai is a holiday destination which I can’t deny and not agree either. I think that one must have a look at the city and judge by oneself. The most interesting thing for me is to see a city in the middle of nowhere with all the infrainstructure and services available, a built city. It reminds me of a book that I read long ago called The Tale of the two cities, in which the author talks about a city within another city, a sort of invisible city I don’t recommend reading it.

I am very positive about being here and I hope to find my way soon. I am starting some courses next week and the people seem friendly and willing to help. The city has a large art scene and nice with galleries, museums and of course thousands of shopping malls. I am not driving yet but I will soon start so that I will have more information on Dubai.

Visitors are welcome from November on, just let me know.