Vacation Over

Wayne and Kathleen at the top of Jebel Hafeet.

I couldn't find these pictures when I did that blog so I wanted to get them in here.

Kathleen and Fiona's vacation came to an end, but on Thursday, December 2nd perhaps the biggest holiday of the year came blowing into Abu Dhabi and all over the U.A.E. NATIONAL DAY!!!!!

What a crazy day that is. As I've said, for those paying attention the U.A.E. was born in 1971 so to celebrate their birthday each year and the national pride they have they go all out. Cars are decorated, buildings are decorated, silly string is sold by the case, cans of spray snow are sold and then the incredibly proud citizens of the UAE hit the streets and it's a rolling (okay stop and go) party.

Cars filled with families or kids or teenagers or young adults drive around festooned with the countries colors of black, green, red and white in any way they can. They also have pictures painted on them of the ruling family or Sheikh Zayed, Our Father. Or they'll have stuffed animals stuck to the cars. In the cars are people with as much silly string as they can find to spray on other cars or passersby or anyone they can find. They also have that fake snow you spray on your windows to make it look wintery.

It was just a wild celebration of people cruising, having fun and interacting. Most, if not all, alcohol free. It went on for hours on Thursday night. The whole week led up to that one night and once people hit the streets it was sheer gridlock.

The lights on the buildings go for 20 - 30 stories so you folks there in Battle Creek with the Festival of Lights, that's nothing compared to these photo's. There are thousands of lighted displays on road medians throughout the city and all the Emirates along with all the rotary's and fountains at them. It really is quite a display of national pride. Easily rivals what I've seen at July 4th in the states if not topping it.

There were fireworks off near Emirates Palace that were visible from a long way away. Of course there were thousands upon thousands of people along the beach and on all the main roads to watch the parade of cars going back and forth and everyone was spraying their silly string, I didn't have any so felt a little left out.

So December 2nd is a big celebration here and it's interesting to watch because there are many people that live here that were around 39 years ago when this was all mud huts with dirt paths. They must be blown away by where they live now. There weren't any cars here until the mid 80's.

The celebration and fun certainly seem heartfelt even if many of the celebrants are from other countries, they call this home now so have adopted some of the silly (pun intended)customs.

QOB: "The best things you can give children, next to good habits, are good memories." Sydney Harris, journalist, author of Winners and Losers."