Hello from Abu Dhabi!

In January, we went to Bahrain, but I didn't have any internet access at my hotel (ug!) and I didn't take any photos.  Oops!

But, now it's February, and we are back in United Arab Emirates - only this time, it's Abu Dhabi.

 

Today, we took a bus tour and went to a mosque.  In order to get in the mosque, I had to cover all my hair and wear long sleeves.  The boys could wear ball caps and t-shirts...but heaven forbid I show my wrists.  Shocking!   Either way, this is not a good look for me. 

 

The mosque sure is pretty, though. 

 

In order to go inside, I gotta take my shoes off.

 

This is the male praying room.  That golden tower in the center points toward Mecca, so the know which way to face when they pray.

Outside the female praying room...and the bathroom is this fun little room filled with feet washing stations.  Before you pray, you are supposed to be purified.  You wash your face, hands, privates and your feet.

And, they had a few rows of those toilets I used a few times in Japan.  They are a pretty, ceramic hole in the ground.  Not my favorite.

I can't imagine why anyone would use a hole-in-the-ground toilet when the other kind are available.



 

After the mosque, we went to a revolutionary self-sustaining community.  The University section is the first section built.

It has electric cars that get you all thru the complex - there was no driving!  It was like the Jetsons - you told the car where you wanted to go and it went!  Super cool!

 

 

The buildings were all built with solar panels on the roof and special decoration on the sides that let light in...but didn't let the sun beat down into the windows. 

 

 

There was this massive wind tunnel machine that uses only wind power to cool a courtyard.  And, it really did.  It was almost like walking into a refrigerator.  Then, the breeze comes from between the buildings and spreads the cool air around.

 

Gardens on the roof and underground electric car "tracks," eco-friendly construction.  And, it's only just begun. 

It reminds me a lot of the purpose behind EPCOT (Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow) at Walt Disney World. 

 

Bye for now!