Dubai!

Flew to Dubai yesterday! Am working on a conference here for a week, but have a couple of days off at the end of next week. Just worked a half day today, so one of my colleagues and I went across to Deira to have a look at the Gold and Spice Souks.

However, they were closed! It's a Friday so the religious day in this part of the world so nothing was opening until 4pm. Some places were open but not much. We found somewhere up a side street for lunch - an Afghan meal, which was extremely tasty as well as cheap - what's not to love!

We headed down to the Spice Souk as 4pm was approaching, and I bought a few Christmas presents - the bartering is really quite a skill! Managed to get some bargains so hopefully they will go down well with the recipients. Saw these dresses - they are very pretty but I would never wear one, however much the stallholders were insistent that I should!

Got some spices - dried lemons, lemon powder, cinnamon sticks, saffron and menthol (not strictly a spice, but still!). I feel there will be some interesting meals when I get home!