Touristy Tuesday

We had a super-dooper sleep last night (comfy beds) and cruised down to breakfast around 08h30. It was, as expected, a super spread with many tasty treats.

We’ve got a list of fun touristy things to do and first on our list was a visit to the mosque, the 4th largest in the world. It really is a sight to behold and there were lots of other tourist checking it out too. It has been a beautiful day with sun shining and blue skies, which off-set the glistening white marble. We got kitted out in burkas, with Steven in a white kandura. It was excellent fun being dressed up. Lizelle S (from now on known as Zelle) and Lizelle V had their first encounter with Asian toilets…

We wanted to visit the Emirates National Car Museum next so we found a taxi at the mosque; but not one of the taxi drivers knew of the place. So we shot back to our hotel, which is not far from the mosque. Only one guy knew where it was and he gave directions to our next taxi driver.

It turned out that he was clueless – a Pakistani dude who has only been driving here for four months. We went off the map and took wrong roundabouts – finally making it to the Museum, which is dedicated to museum the Sheik’s car collection.

We got dropped off on the road and walked in – to discover that the place was closed for maintenance and upgrades, and it had been closed for a few months (no note to this effect on their website). So we figured we’d take a photo or two of the world’s largest caravan (eight bedrooms and eight bathrooms, garages etc. – Guinness Record). Afterall, it cost us almost R250 to get there! And while outside we spotted a guy going into the museum. So, we followed him and asked whether we could go in for a quick look. He agreed, but for a price. We offered 10 dirhams (R20). He declined and said 50 dirhams… mmm… We went in.

Super car collection. Mr Sheik is big time into his Mercs (of all kinds) and big trucks and bakkies. It was really interesting and there were some weird and unusual vehicles to see. Mr-nervous-tour-guide said that there were 220 cars in there and that when it opens again there will be new lighting and more cars. All vehicles, including a really old steam-engine ‘car’ are in working order.

So, now to get back to Abu Dhabi, which was about 60km away. We walked out to the main highway and took bets on when we’d get a taxi. Zelle said an hour; Lizelle said 20 mins. I was on 30 mins and Steven guessed 10 mins. Well, not much more than two minutes later we got a lift from a kind civilian to the outskirts of Abu Dhabi. He signaled to a taxi and dropped us off on the side of the road to swop over to the taxi. Really, really sweet.

Then we hit Marina Mall to get some snacks and a local SIM card; I’m hoping that the data transfer will work for sending out stuff during the race.

We’re now back at the hotel and ready for dins. There were not many teams around this morning – we saw one foreign team this morning. I think more have arrived today and the bulk arrive tomorrow.

A note on speed in this place… We were fetched from the airport in a new Audi A6. So, we had three crates, big tog back, four backpacks, four of us and driver in there. We driving along and realize that we’re going a bit fast. Ja – like 160km/hr. Zelle and I couldn’t see much but Lizelle and Steven saw us passing other cars, which were made to look pedestrian. And the needle didn’t stay there. We topped out at 193km/hr! I asked the dude to chill and slow a bit. Crazy!

Today, the taxi driver also floored it. Signs are up all over for limits from 80km/hr to 120km/hr but it seems to mean nuthin’. The friendly guy who gave us a lift from the museum into Abu Dhabi was cruising at like 160km/hr.

At dinner we were joined by Marcel Hagner, of the winning team fame. And then Richard and Elina Ussher arrived and came to say hi. Nice to chat and very exciting to see other teams arriving now. Tomorrow is going to rock!

Steven is handling us well. He’s going to be all chicked out by the end of the race. Let’s just say that he is learning lots.

For Lizelle, this is her first time overseas and she is loving it. She’s got the travel bug and wants to go everywhere!

Zelle has just finished her honours in town planning so she is lapping up the incredible planning and infrastructure that is going on here. She’s also loving the buildings and architecture.

Tomorrow we’re going to drive through Yas Island where the Grand Prix circuit and World of Ferrari is and then on to the newly opened Saadiyat island for a cultural experience.

Seen off at the airport by Wiehan, Heidi and Stephan

Compression socks on the plane

New audi A6 with three trunks, big tog bag, four backpacks and four people polus driver

An ad on the plane for this drink - isotonic, replaced lost fluid etc.
We bought a can today and will try it tomorrow. Nasty!

Dress-up at the mosque

Silly buggers at the mosque

This place is really pretty

Zelle and Steven

A beeeg Dodge. Has a kitchen, some rooms etc inside.

On an old fire engine

Dat's where we come from!