The United Arab Emirates, Part I

I got back from the UAE 10 days ago. Epic fail on the blogging.

But, lemme tell you, it's taken me this long to recover.

First off, because I had to go back to work and do all those real-world things that up and smack you in the face post-vacation. HERE IS YOUR REAL LIFE, PAY ATTENTION TO ME NOW!

How rude.

It's also taken me a bit to process things, because the UAE is a country unlike anywhere I've ever traveled. I had thought that our trip to Jordan last year might have prepped me, it being the in Middle East as well and all, but the fact of the matter is that Jordan and the UAE are as different as...well...a quaint historic New England village and Vegas.

That's an entirely accurate metaphor, by the way. Except that in this Vegas, alcohol is illegal, as is showing your cleavage. Imagine that.

After 30 hours of traveling (DC to Boston to Heathrow to Abu Dhabi), I arrived and within the hour my long-distance boyfriend and I found ourselves in the most romantic situation I could imagine after 30 hours of travel: on the couch watching Parks and Rec with duty-free wine and delivery sushi. Because when you travel (more than) halfway around the world to see your significant other, who happens to live 7,000 miles away, it's crucially important to maintain routines.

I have never in my life been as jet lagged as I was during this trip. I've traveled in and out of all different kinds of time zones, but this one was a whammy because it's an awkward 8-hour time difference coupled with the fact that Daylight Savings Time occurred back in the States while I was overseas. My body desperately wanted to go to bed at 4am and sleep until noon. Apparently, when you travel through 8-9 time zones, your body retros back to your college years.

So I spent most of the first five days of my ten day trip being alternatively hopped up on caffeine or completely out of it. It does help that it hasn't rained in the UAE in two years (TWO FREAKING YEARS) and so it was nice and bright and sunny. It didn't help that one of us was completely weirdly jetlagged and the other was not.

Yet another thing they don't tell you about extreme long-distance relationships: when you do finally have time to spend together, one of the two of you will be jet-lagged to all hell.

Long story short, I've got some pretty awesome pictures and stories to share with you. But it's also the day before Thanksgiving, so excuse me while I go and stuff my face and drink lovely things with family and friends for a couple'a days. Then, I PROMISE, I'll be back with you to share more.

Also - blog is undergoing construction again. Only this time, it's gonna be awesome. Totally.



Happy Hour snack at Jumeirah Towers - cabernet and a mezze platter by the Gulf.