Day 29 – Istanbul to Abu Dhabi

Istanbul, Abu Dhabi

Monday, 14 October 2013

Ahmet’s assistant ordered a taxi for us to the airport at 10am. Surprisingly there was little traffic on the road to Istanbul’s Ataturk airport. The airport is huge and, with more than 312 gates, you can imagine the comings and goings.

Our afternoon flight to Abu Dhabi was relatively painless – amazing how an action movie helps the time fly – World War Z with Brad Pitt was excellent.

Our driver was at Abu Dhabi airport waiting to take us to Qasr Al Sarab resort in the desert. It’s such a great feeling going through to the arrival hall and seeing your name on a board, almost as good as being home and welcomed by family! You’re taken under someone’s wing, your bags in tow and out to the car park, then settling back and dozing during the smooth two hour trip, not much to see because it’s so dark. Until the moment we turned off the main road and would our way through the dunes.

Our first glimpse of the resort was unbelievable – it was like the entrance to a castle with torches lighting our way.

Then out of the car and so many people there to welcome us even though it was after 10pm – porters, hostesses, concierge. 

Inside a high ceilinged room with water features, we were asked to sit down and offered cold towels and welcome camel milk and date drink together with fresh dates while our checkin paperwork was attended to. 

Then we were personally escorted to our room, past Bedouin artefacts and water features, the way softly lit. The resort is fully booked for the week because of the Eid-Al-Adha public holiday which started today and goes for three days, and then the regular Friday and Saturday weekend. 

Our room is simply beautiful with king size bed with extra large feather pillows, separate toilet and bidet, separate rainwater shower and a large round bathtub, whilst outside we have terrace and strip of garden with views of the dunes.

Feeling dazed we went for a walk and had a drink at the rooftop bar – a mocha martini for me and an expresso martini for Anthony – pinching ourselves – is this for real???

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