Old Dubai

Today we got to take a tour thru Old Dubai. This is the "original" part of Dubai that has existed since the 1950s. It was really interesting because the actual city of Dubai really has only seen big increases in commerce and expansion since 1950 - before that, it wasn't much more than a bunch of sand around a "creek," aptly named Dubai Creek. Today, it is obviously much more interesting than it was 50 or 60 years ago, however, some of the original architecture still exists (as it should - it's only been fifty years or so. The house I grew up in was built in this same time period!). Most of the original architecture (at least what we saw today) has been completely re-done so that the original coral stone used to build the buildings is covered by modern coverings - as such, there aren't many remnants of original buildings left behind to view.

We took a tour through the Dubai museum, went across the river on an Abra - a big wooden boat-taxi. The drivers of these boats aren't exactly careful coming in and out of the docking slips - we banged our way out of the slip and into a couple of boats before we were freely driving on the river. Quite entertaining... We also went to the Textile Market and the Spice Market. It was after seeing these markets that I really felt, for the first time since I've been here, that I'm in another country. It was really cool to see these places and I've put some pics on here of them.

A little tidbit of information for you: The Burj Dubai (the tallest/grandest building in the world) is not yet finished. One of the reasons why it is not finished is because it is being held up by the construction of another building somewhere in the world that is competing for the Burj Dubai's title of "World's Tallest Building." They are holding off construction of the Burj Dubai until that building is finished so that they can then make the Burj Dubai taller. Its already at 720 meters, with a possibility of expansion up to like 880 meters or something. A little bit of Napoleon syndrome maybe???


Bags of Spices at the Spice Markets - Saffron is a really big spice here.












Boats on the Dubai Creek












Me on the Abra













The Textile Market












Some Architectural Pictures - notice the wind-pipes at the top. These served as air-conditioners for the housing. We actually got to go into a house at the Dubai Museum and stand under the wind-pipes. They really do work! It was almost chilly!