Touchdown: Dubai
“Once you have traveled, the voyage never ends… The mind can never break free from the journey.” – Pat Conroy
A very excited, sleepy girl boarded her Emirates Airlines flight. I had never flown with them before, so I was looking forward to experiencing what they were all about. From what I heard, they had a great reputation.
I loved the hats the flight attendants were wearing, and I felt like I was jetting off to somewhere exotic. My lips curled up, as I realized I was en route to the Middle East.
Although I had a 12-hour flight ahead of me, I lucked out with three empty seats. I was able to sprawl out and relax. Although I did not sleep, I felt well rested when I landed.
I had planned on meeting my friend, Elaine, at the airport and then catching our transfer to our hotel. She had flown from Ft. Lauderdale, and I had flown from Boston.
When I arrived, I took in my surroundings. I noticed the men were wearing long, white gowns and white hats. I wanted to snap a picture, but I held back. I was going to approach one of the men, but his face looked stern. A shiver crept up my spine. I thought about sneaking a photo, as I had when I was in my teens in Italy. I decided that may not be the wisest idea. I did not want to get kicked out of the country or thrown in jail before ever stepping foot outside of the airport.
I spied another man, whose facial expression was much friendlier. I approached him and asked if I could take his picture. He told me this was against the rules in the airport. I continued along to Customs.
My passport is a paradox. I have an Italian name. I’m a U.S. citizen with a U.S. passport. My birthplace is listed as Greece. This usually sparks up conversation. Sometimes, I think border patrol is curious. Other times they like to mess with me. Most times, they are just doing their job.
This time was different. I handed the man my passport, and he did not even acknowledge me. Although I was tired, I looked him square on, trying to make him meet my eyes. He ignored me. He did not even look at my passport. He just waved me through. Another chill ran up my spine.
I made my way over to retrieve my luggage. Now, I just wanted to find my friend. I thought back to all those who had questioned me, “Why do you want to visit a country where they oppress women?” Those voices taunted me, and I wondered if there was some truth to those inquiries. At the time, I had scoffed. I viewed Dubai as a modern city. I reminded myself I was in the Middle East for the first time, and the culture would be different than anything I had ever experienced.
I spied an ATM, and I wanted to grab some AED. I had some American cash on me, but I needed to have the right currency in my pocket. I decided to wait, as I was not familiar with my surroundings. I could possibly be in the most dangerous part of the world I have ever stepped foot in. I had never been to the Middle East, and other than Dubai, I had no desire to explore this part of the world. I thought I was open-minded. My apprehension made me realize I had formed some strong opinions.
Travel Tip: Do not exchange your money at the airport, where you will get the worst exchange rate. ATMs or banks are your best bet. Thanks, Toni, for the insights.
I found my transfer and learned Elaine was at our hotel. I hopped in the car, and off we went. I checked in, and went to our room. Neither of us were hungry, so we skipped dinner. I wanted to walk around the city, but from what I gathered, we were on the outskirts. I was not sure of how safe our area was, and we were both tired. We explored the hotel, and I spent some time at the steam room and sauna. After chitchatting for a bit, we drifted off to sleep. We had a lot to explore over the next several days.
More blogs from this trip:
- Three Firemen and a Girl in Leopard Pajamas
- Dubai: Kite Beach
- Dubai: Pierchic, Where the Sun Kisses the Ocean
- The Dubai Fountain, The Dubai Mall
- Jumeirah Grand Mosque, Dubai: Open Doors. Open Minds.
- Alexandra Dhow Cruise in the Dubai Marina
- Dubai City Tour
- Red Dune Safari with Sand Boarding, UAE
- Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
- Burj Al Arab, Dubai
- The Dubai Frame, UAE
- Observatory Bar & Grill, Dubai Marina
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