"Dubai Day One"

Just a quick pop-in to my blog as I figure out how to stay connected to the Internet and access this site.

Today, was a very productive day. Upon arriving in Dubai, I was detained at immigration; however, in the back of my mind I remembered (and rather quickly I might add) I would be provided a "Visitor's Visa" so my being pulled aside and sent to an office and told to wait, wasn't as scary as it could have been!

Grabbed me some Bombay Blue Sapphire in duty-free shortly after my....detainment. Alcohol is technically illegal here in Dubai only residents and those posessing a license can purchase it from stores, however, drinks are sold in bars and then there's a still a catch, because they're all attached to hotels and are seen as "private clubs" so they're bending the rules just a wee bit. Hope to make it to Trader Vic's and the bar in the famous, fancy schmancy hotel I can't, at this moment, remember the name of...guess that visitor's visa quick memory was my one and only allotment for the day!

I also managed to pick up a SIM card for my old Nokia phone that's had U.S., German and Spanish numbers so I now have a UAE (United Arab Emirates) number!

Let's see, I found the Nordstrom's of groceries stores just a few blocks away from my apartment hotel purchasing some Guda cheese, and a roasting chicken (just like Ralph's back home in Long Beach!) to go with a few things I picked up at a 7-11 esque market across the street. From now on, you'll definitely find me shoppin' for grub at Spinney's!

Long story short, a member of Nifty after Fifty where I work connected me to her niece who is captain of a 747 cargo jet and who also lived in Dubai for 5 years with an overall 13-year connection. Jamile (pronounced Ja-Mee-la here in Dubai) went above and beyond the call of duty supplying me with incredible information WAY MORE than what can be found in the tour books or on the Internet. Thank you, thank you, thank you, Jamile! Oh, and she's a fellow Scorpio, and we all know Scorpio's rock!!!

One of the best things Jamile did for me is to connect me with her friend, Faustine, whom I'll meet tomorrow for dinner, and a night out on the town. Friday starts their weekend so Thursday night it's parrrrr-tay!

I've also made contact with Burleise via email and texting. She's in Abu Dhabi with sucky cell coverage, but at least I know she made it here and is still alive! LOL

For now, that's it. Not that there isn't more to say, but I wanna make sure I can make these postings before I spend too much time composing them.