Date: Thu, 16 Oct 2008 01:58:55 -0500
Subject: Lampoons vacation

Bonjour all!!

Or salam because we are still in Dubai, leaving tomorrow Oct.17 at 1500.
About the flight here, I've got one thing to say. "Airbus SCAREBUS - if its not Boeing I'm not going!" However we went.! Couldn't see anything at all from plane until landing. I did feel excited then!
Economy is cattle class, crowded, no leg room, you eat with elbows close to chest! We were slightly fortunate to have the row to ourselves. It would have been worse if not for that.
Now I know how I forgot the first time we went and why I don't like it.. No sleep.
We arrived 5.30 am and lasted till 11.30 am and then slept for 3 hours.. After that we were fine.
Passport queues long. All these swarthy Arabs processing - didnt even look at us or talk to us - just bang - the stamp and we were through to get the luggage.
Dubai so hot. Can't spend here. Shops amazing, construction everywhere, saw new Burj Dubai which will be the tallest building in world when finished, 800 metres or two Eureka Towers!
Emma and Enrico arranged birthday dinner for Greg where the Sth African waiters formed a band complete with drums and maraccas and sang a song that was sung in the mines for his birthday.Candles and all!! Then we walked outside for a view of that tall tower in the dark and the heat!
Traffic is bad here, crime is low although you will get 2 years gaol time for bringing in codeine or 4 years for smoking pot - even if you smoked it a week ago!
Big designer stores, beautiful clothes and jewellery, Arabs in Corvettes and Hummers in designer sunglasses, multi million dollar diamond rings and mobil phones to be had for $A75,000.
All I want is a decorative souvenir camel!!
Thank goodness for emails as Olympic Airways have changed some flights to Santorini we will now get in at night. That's if the airline is still flying at that time.
Will definitely contact from Paris.
Au revoir till then,
Love Madame and Monsieur Pauline & Greg.xx
We were so stunned I forgot to take a photo!!