29-38 degC; hazy and humid to start with again, to a little clearer and less humid
We all met for breakfast at 7:30am again. We ran into lots of colleagues in the dining room, one of them being long-time MEPS member Peter Rollason. After another hearty breakfast, we we said goodbye to Jane and Sylvain. Ann, who had only just arrived, went to bed for a few hours and Steve and I decided to explore the local area. We stumbled across a Carrefour supermarket which was still undergoing renovations and then a Cheers bottle shop. Inside was a variety of alcoholic beverages ranging from beer to wine to spirits of varying degrees (see picture for the range of Australian products and prices (we are working on an average of 2:1 as it is easier than 2.4:1)). We decided to purchase a 6-pack of beer each and we were able to purhcase this for AED30 = $12 (roughly). We thought this was a bargain because if we were to buy a beer at the hotel it would cost AED30 for one!
We then waited for Sylvain and Jane to finish their meeting (which ran late) and then caught a cab into the city to visit the WTC (World Trade Centre) Mall & Souk which I had been told was quite pricey, but went along for the ride. The Mall was a very pricey affair and the Souk was much smaller version of the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul but with prices on steroids. The only good thing, in my opinion, was there was a hypermarket that sold selfie-sticks and I was able to pick a Bluetooth one up for AED30 = A$12; and this one can convert into a tripod as well so it was a bargain price considering a plain Bluetooth one in Australia is A$30. Might have to go back to the Grand Mosque and take some more pictures!
I really wanted to do the Louvre today, but no-one else was really interested. So, depending on what is happening tomorrow morning, I may do that on my own. I also have another whole day on my own at the end of the tour, so can do these things then. We may also do the Emirates Palace. If only it wasn't so darn hot during the day, we could taxi it into the city then wander. I would ordinarily do it on my own however, am a tad reluctant here as you just never know.
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| One of the many vans here in the exhibition venue |
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| Inside the exhibition centre where the FIP Congress will be held |
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| A selection of Australian wines found in the alcohol store "Cheers" |
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| My hotel - Aloft - taken by me |
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| Where we visited this afternoon |
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| In Abu Dhabi WTC - doesn't matter where you are in the world, the message is similar |
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