saturday at the souqs

This is how Lucy has been spending a lot of her time here in the Middle East. She's been so great in the Baby Bjorn. And as I walk around, people of all cultures just think it is so cute and they love to talk to her and touch her face. I was kind of warned about that, so I really don't freak out....being a mom for a second go-around has helped.



I went to this boutique shopping area today called the Madinat Jumeirah. It is a new area but it is a recreation of an antique Arabian souq (or market). I really found the architecture quite beautiful.

Yet another view of the Burj Al Arab.  

All the colorful shishas (hookahs).  

After the boutique market, we went to Mall of the Emirates, which is the largest mall in the world.  It was incredible.  The place just kept going and going and going....and you can shop at stores like Louis Vuitton or H & M or Osh Kosh B'Gosh or Burberry or any number of toy stores or children's clothing stores or whatever.  They have everything, including this indoor ski resort called Ski Dubai.  It comes complete with fake evergreens and ski chalet.  True snow skiing in the middle of the desert.  Just amazing.  We ate at a restaurant overlooking all the skiers.  

More architecture shots.  The mall is just gargantuan.  

This is John, Ayumi and Aiko Sardar.  They were so gracious in letting me spend their Saturday with them.  They are actually friends of friends in my parents' church and they lived in Saint Louis for many years before moving overseas.  In fact, I found out that John knew my father-in-law because he was a deacon at Twin Oaks Pres.  I think the world is actually getting smaller. They took me to this awesome restaurant, Karam, with the best Lebanese cuisine in town.  John and Ayumi, thank you so much for your hospitality.  I so enjoyed my time with you and your daughter.  

You see that building on the far right in this picture?  That is the Burj Dubai, and as of now, the tallest building in the world.  It is something like 162+ stories.  The building has Hager hinges on it, along with some other Hager products.  I guess that makes us famous...not really.