Just NB

My friends picked me up at the Luxembourg airport and whisked me off to Strasbourg.  I'm so happy. More details later!

I'm not sure how to say this.  This week I'm extra thankful and happy and blessed to have the people in my life that love, support me, and let me know it by the relationships we share.  I'm thankful I am able to take this amazing trip. I'm thankful that I'm going to Luxembourg, where I'll spend time with friends, and be myself . 

I'm not sure how I got the dates that mixed up, but so far I've had a pretty ok day!  Last night I tried to find out more how to take the bus to Atlantis in Dubai, but there's little info online and I'm not sure what I'd do there. It's not really a solo kind if place, or maybe just not a solo place for me.  Looks cool though.  Started today like every other day so far with a Starbucks! Love that its so close!   Laundry, packing, and laziness, then finally I went got the energy to walk the whole seven minutes to the beach. It's called the Corniche. My dad and his wife live in the pinkish building. I went for lunch just down the on the Corniche at a nice Italian place.  It's outside so they make every effort to make sure you're confortable in the shade and portable fans.  I had a smallish lunch, so that I could have this amazing ice cream concoction. I'm really keeping this Abu Dhabi portion of the trip. Hey, carbs are good for your mood or somethi...

I was going to pack my suitcase, when my dad's wife asked if I had changed my flight.  I checked...and yup I'm not leaving tomorrow, but that gives me another day to spend at the beach. And take more stupid pictures like this: This part of the vacay is certainly interesting, like I'm sure everything is in UAE. 

It's hot today.  I walked about ten minutes to the beach, but stopped to get some takeout to eat lunch on the beach.  When I got to the restaurant, the cashier made polite conversation, talking about how hot is it and how I must have needed a break from swimming.  +42*C + 10 min walk = me looking like I just got out of the ocean. On the plus side, I'm finding it very hot, so maybe I'm becoming less Malagasy and more Canadian!

I just have to block out everything and enjoy my time at the beach tomorrow.  It's a beautiful beach.  I can do this.

I'm happy to be on the other side and not counting down the minutes until I have to book a flight or get a visa.  Both my dad and stepmom are busy from breakfast until supper so I'm hanging solo while I'm here. After the visa fiasco, I'm actually only here for two days.  I really had wanted to spend the day at the Atlantis hotel in Dubai, but the logistic and the crowds and the planning...I'm a lazy tourist and have decided to spend both days at the beach. The weather is perfect. I'll probably go to the mall tonight, then back to the beach tomorrow. It's been a long time since I've sat on the beach, which is a little weird since I lived 500 meters from a beach the last 4 years. But here you pay like ten bucks and you get a lounger, umbrella, and toilets and showers. And lots of calm water.