Please check out all my blogs on our trip to Abu Dhabi and Dubai on Exploring Abu Dhabi Block by block:
https://mywalkinmanhattan.com/category/exploring-abu-dhabi-block-by-block
I finally had some time for myself! Thank God!
We ran around Abu Dhabi and Dubai like chickens with our heads cut off and it was nice to finally sleep in, have a nice LATE breakfast and just relax. My roommate for the class was not leaving until Midnight for his flight, so he went off to join friends who were in Dubai. I set off after breakfast and decided to explore Abu Dhabi. It was just nice to relax and go at my own pace.
The Bistro at The Marriott Courtyard World Trade buffet was wonderful every morning.
The fresh omelets in the morning were a great way to start off the day.
I really enjoyed staying at the Marriott Courtyard World Trade Center. It was the perfect hotel for a group of graduate students with a central location close to everything and close proximity to the beaches, parks and shopping. A nice alternative to the NYU dorms on the Abu Dhabi campus.
My walk that morning started a beautiful sunny Saturday morning with clear blue skies. The perfect day for a walk around the city. I started my adventure walking down Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Street past Heritage Park and the unique outdoor sculptures that line the park.
The beautiful Al Ittihad Square in Heritage Park in Downtown Abu Dhabi.
https://www.gpsmycity.com/attractions/al-ittihad-(union)-square-heritage-park-30714.html
At the heart of this captivating park lies Al Ittihad Square, an architectural masterpiece that commemorates the formation of the United Arab Emirates. In the local language, “ittihad” signifies “union,” and this square stands as a symbol of unity and pride for the Emirati people. The square’s design artfully weaves Emirati cultural symbols on a monumental scale, exuding a sense of grandeur and significance (GPSMYCITY.com website).
The beauty of the works of art line the downtown park.
The centerpiece of Al Ittihad Square is a stunning representation of a traditional incense burner, known as “mabakhir,” meticulously crafted to reflect its true essence and cultural importance. Emirati hospitality is embodied in the symbols surrounding the square, including a large coffee pot called “dallah,” adorned with a long spout, a quintessential part of Emirati gatherings where coffee is a symbol of generosity and warmth (GPSMYCITY.com website).
The sculptures accent the beauty of the downtown.
Another beautiful building in the same park was the elegant and historic Masjid Jaafar bin Abi Talib Mosque. I read that is one of the oldest most historic Mosques in the city. It was certainly impressive when I passed it. I loved the details in the architecture.
Masjid Jaafar bin Abi Taliba at Al Hisn -E1
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ja%27far_ibn_Abi_Talib
The view of Downtown Abu Dhabi from the shore line is very impressive.
After passing the park, I walked through the underpass and arrived on the other side of the street onto Corniche Beach Park and Lake Park that both face the water. This was when I finally got to see the locals and expats enjoying time with their families. Kids were playing in the playground, parents were talking under shaded trees and couples were pushing baby carriages or riding around the parks. The same things we do on the weekends after a long day proving to myself that people are people all over the world.
Lake Park between the beach and downtown is so beautiful.
The parks were really beautiful and so well maintained. The paths were lined with flowers and with the sun getting stronger that morning, most everyone opted for time under the shade trees. Nothing stops kids though from running all over the park. What was also nice was the park and the beach area had clean bathrooms which was perfect when I had to make stops. The views of the beach with the city in the background were breathtaking.
The entrance to Corniche Beach Park that lines the water and the sandy beaches.
I walked the length of the walkway along the beach which was getting very busy in the late morning and afternoon with people tanning and swimming. The water was very calm and looked so refreshing. I wished I had brought my bathing suit with me and just sunned myself for the afternoon. I had thoughts of running back to my room and just forgetting the tour but I really wanted to walk the city.
The welcoming sign to the Beach area.
The walkway in Corniche Park offers such spectacular views of the beach with the glittering skyline in the background. I can only imagine the views that the apartments and hotels have of the beach.
It was such a beautiful walk that morning but it was getting hotter with each hour. I had to take breaks in between to sit in the shade. As I stopped I admired how beautiful the skyline looked against the beach. I have to admit they had some some interesting architecture here and I like the way it blends with the sea. Some is just so new and impressive in its design.
These little smiling faces dominated both sides of the road of the development. This faces the beach.
I walked the entire length of the beach and was going to cross the bridge and then realized that we had visited it the other day when we visited Heritage Village and decided to continue along the park walk.
I stopped at the Founder’s Memorial and was taking pictures not realizing that that was a no-no. I then saw the sign asking not to take pictures of it for commercial purposes and immediately erased all my pictures. It is a very interesting sculpture that you have to look at from all angles. It is the profile of the founder of the country.
The Founder’s Memorial is a permanent national tribute dedicated to commemorating the life, legacy and values of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founding father of the UAE (Founders Website).
https://www.thefoundersmemorial.ae/en/home
The artwork was designed by American artist Ralph Helmick. Mr. Helmick is a graduate of both the University of Michigan with a BS in American Studies and an MFA from the School of Museum Fine Arts Boston and is known for his large sculpture commissions (Wiki).
Artist Ralph Helmick
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralph_Helmick
After I walked around the memorial and looked at it from each angle (and seemingly scaring the security guards who keep jumping everytime I walked by. You thought they never saw a six foot white guy walking around), I walked around the park and decided to walk the heart of the city so I walked the street that was parallel to the beach to explore the small businesses and buildings that lined the shore. It was all so new and so QUIET. I wondered where all the people who were in the city during the week went.
At the edge of the shoreline is Etihad Towers with its gleaming hotels and restaurants like a shining beacon at the edge of the downtown. Extremely impressive building complex.
I walked down Corniche Street that lined the beach and then crossed over to walk Zayed First Street which took me into the heart of downtown. This is where you really do start to see the heart of Abu Dhabi, is when you get away from the first two blocks that line the shoreline and begin to see the ethnic enclaves that have developed in the city from the workers who have been brought here to work the hotels, restaurants and do the building, cleaning and work the infrastructure of the city’s hospitality. This is where I found the interesting restaurants, bakeries, shops and places where the workers gathered after this shifts were over.
The small family run businesses and ethnic stores that make the character of a city.
I walked the six full city blocks between Al Falah Street and 11th Street, walking around all the shops and restaurants and looking at the architecture. It struck me that this must have been the first wave of oil money that developed this area with the buildings looking like they were from the late 1980’s to 90’s. This must have been ‘The’ area to live in before all the new development along the coast in the last twenty years.
Just like any city when people move on from the neighborhood, another ethnic group moves in and makes it their own. We see this in New York City all the time when former Italian and Irish neighborhoods then become Columbian, Indian, West African and Peruvian. One wave replaces another. This blocks were full of the sites and sounds of people who left their native lands for a better life in Abu Dhabi and brought their culture with them.
As I walked the confined blocks with their small alleyways and full parking lots, I got to experience the real sites and smells of the ethnicity of Abu Dhabi that the Souk’s just didn’t offer. That to me seemed a little touristy and catering to the out of towners looking for an ‘authentic experience’. This to me was the authentic experience just seeing people live their day to day lives.
I walked through the blocks of small spice stores, tiny bakeries, shoe repairs, small clothing and fabric stores, spice and candy stores, phone and travel stores. People from all walks of life I assumed were from Yemen, Omen, India, Thailand, Pakistan, Vietnam and other countries were chatting in their foreign tongue only to stop for a split second to see the tall white 6:4 tourist walk around their neighborhoods. I have to say I stopped more than one conversation and got quite a few stares but for the most part everyone just nodded and went on their way. It got more interesting when I got hungry and wanted something to eat.
I found so many interesting hole in the wall places in these neighborhoods but when I checked out the reviews on Google Maps, some were downright horrible. One interesting little Indian place had an “F” on their sanitation sign and I was all bummed because everything in the window looked so good. After my experience in Cambodia a few years ago at eating on the street, I vowed never again so I continued touring. I was dying for some Chinese food but the only restaurant I could find got terrible reviews so it was onto the next place.
As I turned the corner after exploring the whole neighborhood, circling all the blocks to see what was there, I myself back on the main street of the downtown a couple of blocks by my hotel and that’s when I came across Cafe Toronto, a small sandwich place with outdoor dining. On a sunny warm afternoon this is what I wanted. I was not too sure about the place until I heard an Asian girl with a strong California accent talking to an Indian guy with a very strong British accent eating lunch at a table near where I was standing. I figured that they were students too so if they were eating here, it would be fine for me as well. That logic got me one of the best meals in Abu Dhabi.
The Toronto Cafe at 212 Sultan Bin Zayed The First Street
https://restaurantguru.com/Cafeteria-Toronto-Abu-Dhabi
My review on TripAdvisor:
I have to thank that girl from California because the food and the service were excellent and I really enjoyed my roast chicken sandwich. It was so unusual looking but so good at the same time. The sandwich was from a rotisserie spit of layers of chicken breasts and then slowly cooked and roasted and then sliced thin from the rows of chicken. It is so interesting and delicious. The sandwich was served with a side of fries that were freshly cooked and a Cole slaw side.
The menu at Cafe Toronto was extensive and had some interesting things on the menu.
You can’t beat this Chicken Sandwich topped with roasted skin. Who cares about calories when it is this good!
I can’t describe how crisp and juicy this sandwich was for lunch.
The Orange, Mango and Banana Smoothie to wash it all done was wonderful on a hot day and brought out the savory flavors of the chicken.
Now this was a lunch! This is when walking around a city produces something special and what the locals would have for a meal. It was such a beautiful afternoon and I felt so safe eating outside without homeless coming up and asking for money. Just sitting at these small tables, enjoying my meal and watching the world go by showed me the heart of this City.
After lunch was over, it was back to the hotel for some rest and relaxation for the last day in Abu Dhabi. All that running around during the week between here and Dubai took a lot out of not just myself but my classmates as well. So I walked back the Marriott Courtyard and spend the late afternoon and early evening at the pool and jacuzzi just relaxing and admiring the views from the top of the 12th floor of the hotel. They are quite spectacular as well.
The pool at the hotel was very refreshing on a hot afternoon. It was so nice to just stop and relax and enjoy life. I read books, wrote articles and read my back issues of New York Magazine. Everyone once in a while I would stop and look at the views from the edge of the pool. What was funny was when I was the last guest left as a the sun set, the doves and pigeons stopped by the pool to take a drink of the water and wash their feathers. It is amazing the interaction we have with nature when there are no humans around. Similar to the dolphins in the canals of Venice and the turtles on the coastlines mating in the United States. Nature takes over when there are gaps.
The Marriott Courtyard Pool at night and the views from the World Trade Center.
https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/auhcy-courtyard-world-trade-center-abu-dhabi/overview/
After the pool, it was time to relax in the room and start my research paper on our trip for Abu Dhabi and Dubai. My partners and I made our recommendations about tourism for both cities and created a PowerPoint for the project. We had such a positive in both cities that I see a very bright future of tourism from the United States.
The PowerPoint:
https://gamma.app/docs/Abu-Dhabi-Tourism-Project-q4259b47q4xhd06
The Research Paper we wrote on observations of the trip:
The next day after another great breakfast it was off the airport to leave for Cairo. Getting through the airport in Abu Dhabi was never a problem. Getting through the airport in Cairo is another story. So I said goodbye to Abu Dhabi but not forever. I would like to study or work here someday. I just think I would fit in. It was such a great experience and I am glad that I came. Our class was wonderful and I learned so much about the country. No place is like New York City, but this was an excellent visit and a wonderful learning experience. I was only here for six days but it felt like a month. Then it was off to a series of airports for the next two days and off I went to Cairo, Egypt.
My day in Cairo, Egypt at the Airport (what an experience!):
I had to go through Immigration and customers and since I was technically leaving the airport to go the Le Meridian Hotel for the night for my 10:00am flight the next day, I had to get a transfer visa that did not take that long but was very confusing. You go from one desk to another in Cairo Airport and have to talk to multiple people. Have patience. They all speak English and are happy to help confused Americans. Finally leaving the final checkpoint with a guard that looked at me like I was some undercover operative for the US, I finally got to the hotel. The Le Meridian Hotel was like the ‘Land of Oz’. I walked across that crossway and it was into a another world from the chaos of the Cairo Airport.
The Le Meridian Hotel at Cairo International Airport sets a certain standard of what airport hotels should be like. It was amazing!
https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/caiam-le-meridien-cairo-airport/rooms/
My review on TripAdvisor:
The pool at the hotel is like an oasis from the reality of the airport.
After a quick check in at the hotel, I was in my room unpacking and taking a shower. Then I just relaxed. I had read a TripAdvisor review on the plane about the restaurants at the hotel and saw the pictures. They looked really nice. The Lebanese restaurant was closed for the night but China Red, their Chinese restaurant was open for the evening and that was exactly what I was in the mood for dinner.
China Red exceeded my expectations in every way. A elegant restaurant with excellent food and service. The plate presentations of the food were photo worthy and the taste of everything was delicious. I ordered the Pre-fixe menu of four courses and this weary traveler enjoyed every one of them.
The entrance to China Red in the Le Meridian Hotel’s second floor.
The view of the restaurant to the pool outside.
Dinner was amazing. I was starved and since there were so many choices that I liked the meal covered everything I wanted. I started the meal with a small container of rice noodles that I devoured very quickly.
Then the Seafood Hot & Sour Soup came out and that hit the spot on a cool Cairo evening.
The Excellent Seafood Hot & Sour Soup was studded with baby shrimp
This was followed by Pan Fried Shanghai Buns and Steamed Chicken Dumplings that melted in my mouth.
The Shanghai Buns and Dumplings I could tell were hand made and were wonderful.
What a way to start a meal after a long day of traveling. Their portion sizes were not overwhelming and it was just enough.
Then the entree came out. I ordered the Basil Chicken with a side of Vegetable Lo Mein and it looked as good as it tasted.
The Basil Chicken with Vegetables.
The Vegetable Lo Mein.
The perfect dinner.
For dessert (I love Pre-Fixes with dessert) I had the Fried Bananas with Ice Cream. That was a real delight.
The perfect dessert, Fresh Fried Bananas and Vanilla Ice Cream.
The perfect way to end a meal in Cairo. What a delicious dessert this was.
After the picture perfect and excellent dinner I had, I walked around the pool and admired how breathtaking it looked in the evening with the lights on and a warm breeze going by. I wish they had allowed night swimming but I was so tired and stuffed from dinner and traveling it was time to turn in for the evening. I will have to come back in the future.
The pool is just outside the restaurant.
I swear I just wanted to jump right in. It was so nice at night at the hotel.
After a big meal and jet lag, I was ready for bed. I knew I had to get up at 5:00am for breakfast and to get ready for the flight, but I stayed up and read and wrote. There was so much I wanted to do and now wished that I had a later flight in the afternoon. That would not be the case and I did not get to bed until Midnight Cairo time. The room was so comfortable that I did not care.
My bedroom at the hotel.
The sitting area of the room the next morning.
The “Joan Crawford” Bathroom in my room. The showers came from all directions.
I may have only gotten about five hours of sleep that night but I swear I felt like I was sleeping for a year with how comfortable that bed was that night. I was out like a light. It did not last that long because my body was so thrown by all this traveling that I got up at 4:00am instead of 5:00am and I was already showered, dressed and packed by the time the wake up call came in. No worries as it was off to breakfast before I left.
Let me tell you something about the Cairo Airport, it is not a place to find something to eat. The choices were not like going through Abu Dhabi’s airport. It also does not have the same comfort level, With the war going on, there are guards everywhere staring you down. I needed a good breakfast before my long journey home that would take me from Cairo to Munich and then Munich to Newark. EVOO, the hotel’s buffet Breakfast Room was the perfect place to start the day. Talk about choices.
EVOO was located on the second floor just outside the pool area and also had great views of outside. The food was amazing as well.
https://www.marriott.com/en-us/dining/restaurant-bar/caiam-le-m-ridien-cairo-airport/5974488-evoo.mi
My review on TripAdvisor:
I got the restaurant a little before 5:45pm and they were completely set up for a late dinner and a early breakfast. You could not want for anything here. They had a whole assortment of dinner foods and breakfast foods. it was strange to see all the fish, rice and pasta dishes at 5:30am in the morning, but I figured like myself, everyone was coming from different time zones and had different needs for meals.
The Buffet line was extensive.
The delicious pastries and breads on the buffet line.
There was even fresh honeycomb on the buffet line.
The seating area by the pool.
I settled in and looked around for breakfast foods and settled once again for a omelet with a side of potatoes, some pastries and went back for a second time and wanted some pancakes. The assortment of pastries was tough to choose from but I settled on some iced puff pastries and decorated croissants. Everything on the line was delicious and fresh. The visuals of the food were just specular.
The delicious Ham and Cheese Omelet was excellent that morning.
The pancakes were excellent as well.
The delicious pastries, croissants and breads were freshly baked here.
My Omelet breakfast which is the best meal of the day.
I just sat in the empty dining room and looked at the other five people like myself who had not gotten much sleep and eating at crazy hours and were probably just as jet lagged as was that morning. I had the time to eat and relax for a bit before my flight but knowing I had to go through Customs again at the airport, I made my out and walked around the pool to stretch my legs. I wish I had had time for swim.
The outside of EVOO by the pool area when the sun came up.
After my walk around the property at sunrise, it was back to the room and finish packing to go home. I checked out of the hotel, got through Customs (that took almost an hour of trying to figure out what I needed to leave the country. You need the exit Transfer from the airline again so please remember this. Have it filled out and ready to go with your passport) and finally got my luggage scanned for the third time that morning and got to the gate. Word of advice when traveling through Cairo International Airport, really do leave yourself about THREE hours to get through the process. It was a process.
It really was a great trip and a wonderful experience in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. One that I know that I will remember. Now its back home and then back to school in March and then Graduation.
From there, who knows?!
Places to Stay:
Courtyard World Trade Center, Abu Dhabi
Hamdan Bin Mohammed Street (5th Street), Abu Dhabi,
United Arab Emirates Tel: +971 2-6982222
https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/auhcy-courtyard-world-trade-center-abu-dhabi/overview/
My review on TripAdvisor:
Le Meridian Cairo Airport
Cairo International Airport, Terminal Three
Cairo, Egypt
https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/caiam-le-meridien-cairo-airport/overview/
My review on TripAdvisor:
Places to Eat:
Bistro: Courtyard World Trade Center, Abu Dhabi
Hamdan Bin Mohammed Street (5th Street), Abu Dhabi
United Arab Emirates
Telephone number: +971 2-6982222
https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/auhcy-courtyard-world-trade-center-abu-dhabi/dining/
Open: Sunday-Saturday 7:00am-10:30am/12:30pm-3:00pm/7:00pm-10:00pm
My review on TripAdvisor:
Toronto Cafe (Cafeteria)
212 Sultan Bin Zayed The First Street
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Telephone: 971 2 639-2223
https://restaurantguru.com/Cafeteria-Toronto-Abu-Dhabi
Open: Sunday-Saturday 4:00am-2:00am
My review on TripAdvisor:
China Red: Le Meridian Cairo Airport
Cairo International Airport, Terminal Three
Cairo, Egypt
https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/caiam-le-meridien-cairo-airport/dining/
Open: Sunday 5:00pm-10:30pm/Monday Closed/Tuesday-Saturday 5:00pm-10:30pm
My review on TripAdvisor:
EVOO: Le Meridian Cairo Airport
Cairo International Airport, Terminal Three
Cairo, Egypt
https://www.marriott.com/en-us/dining/restaurant-bar/caiam-le-m-ridien-cairo-airport/5974488-evoo.mi
Open: Sunday-Saturday 4:00am-11:00pm
My review on TripAdvisor:
Places to Visit:
Corniche Beach Park
Corniche Road
Abu Dhabi
https://visitabudhabi.ae/en/where-to-go/beaches/corniche-beach
Open: Sunday-Saturday 24 hours
My review on TripAdvisor:
