Day 21 of 102,  Tuesday 31st January.  My brother would have been 81 today.

In today’s port, Abu Dhabi, I had an arrangement to meet a now grown woman, Abeba, with three small children whom I had known when she was as a small child, then later as a young adult.  She had grown up in London, along with her brother, and was more associated with my sister than with me.   Closer to the age of my sister’s long since grown up chilren,  I am still known as and  still called Uncle David, which I like very much.

I was shown around the area from where the city of Abu Dhabi had evolved, now an ultra modern museum charting the city’s and country’s fascinating history. The ancient architecture blended very well with its ultra modern spectacular high-rise backdrop.

Although, by now, hot and dry, I chose to wear long trousers and long a long sleeved shirt so as not to cause offence if visiting a mosque or other religious site.  Abeba was very knowledgeable in what she was explaining to me, and already, I was feeling safe, comfortable, and welcome in this Arab capital.  In the museum, one of the attendants in immaculate white Arab costume offered us a small local coffee, which I accepted readily in the hopes of being revived from an unexpectedly lousy sleep during the night! 

Abu Dhabi is the capital of the United Arab Emirates but is far less ostentatious than its near neighbour Dubai, which is perhaps the inspiration for emerging cities and developments in the U.A.E.  Abeba told and showed me much in this fascinating part of early Abu Dhabi, but I would need to read more to be able to write   knowledgeably about all that I had seen and photographed in that short space of time.

Abeba uses taxis to get around what felt like a sprawling city, each ride being around 15 – 20 minutes.  It was time for lunch.  Not far from where she lives, a local newly built eatery offered what I understood to be Lebanese cuisine, a banquet offering many choices. 

We had a goodly amount of time to enjoy a selection of all that was offered before picking her children up at school. Amazingly, I was allowed into the building as if I was the children’s grandparent.  An identity lanyard was draped around my neck, which I was not allowed to take as a souvenir!  But, I was allowed to take as many photographs as I wished. 

We then made the penultimate taxi ride to Abeba’s lovely apartment complete with spectacular views of futuristic high-rise architecture as a backdrop, and in the foreground, a marina of private vessels, from where, I understand, it is possible to take a boat trip.  The children and I got on very well, and even the one and a half years old showed signs of contentment and intelligence with his big, wide, and almost perpetual smile!

I met and enjoyed the company of the parents-in-law, and was very sorry when this lovely visit drew to a close with one final taxi drive back to the ship, where Abeba, her Children and I were met by Abeba’s husband.

All were impressed by the majestic sight of Queen Mary 2 birthed sedately at the modern cruise terminal, perhaps not the children! 

One of those therapeutic breezes cooled the open decks from the heat of the day.  Some of the shore experiences became delayed in traffic, allowing an extra hour to enjoy final dusk to nocturnal views of Abu Dhabi visible from the ship.

Many thanks for reading, David, 10.19hrs the following morning, during a late breakfast!