So I have been remiss in blogging of late…. Working hard during the week, but have taken the last two weekends off to explore and experience Dubai….
This weekend started off with Brunch Dubai style. But before I begin telling you this tale … you must recognize that some things just need to be experienced, all attempts to describe … well … fall short.
Picture in your mind, going to one of the fanciest hotels in town. A growing group of 300 plus smartly turned out gents and cocktail dress ladies await the opening of doors. As the appointed time arrives and the double doors are thrown open and civilized we stream in, graciously accepting a glass of champers (Taittinger, in our case) as each group is guided to their table, by one of 50 staff. Immediately you are struck by the atmosphere, the restaurant is fully decked out in balloons and streamers across the tables, a sparkly party hat or tiara at every seat, noise makers within hands reach. The buffet is overflowing and exotic, you try to plan out your first plate while trying to see who else is there. Before you have had a moment to sit down, someone is there to top up your champagne glass. And so it begins… Friday Brunch. While for locals, Friday is the holiest of days, spent in prayer, contemplation and family togetherness, for the expats, Friday is the day to feast and fete. At least between the hours of noon to four. The Friday champagne brunch is what you keep hoping every new year’s eve will be, but never is: fun, chaotic, and memorable (in a good way). From the non-stop champagne, to the amazing food, to the chatting-up, to the dancing… yes you are dancing by the end and for many, the table tops were the places to do it, Friday brunch is a whirlwind must do Dubai activity … but it comes at a price … like all things here … The one I was at was mid range at 450dhs (about 150 Canadian), not counting the ala carte items most people indulge in too… like the porterhouse stakes … seriously, for many the buffet is just an appetizer.
So what does one do as brunch draws to a close, well there is three options: 1) taxi home, pass out and hope the hangover is not so bad; 2) taxi home and cat nap to get ready for round two later that evening; or option 3, which was my choice this past Friday, keep on going …….
From brunch, I was invited out with the Scottish contingent to the “360”, a round outdoor bar at the end of a man-made spit, just beside the sail hotel. Well first we had to sneak me in…. apparently people are really picky about guest lists here. So for the evening I was Isla MacIntosh. I must say, nothing like mojitos at sunset in the edge of the Abrian sea.
The combination of starting your evening at noon, dancing by 3pm and seeing the sun set by 6pm, means that by 7:30pm you really and truly feel like it is almost 11pm. You can guess my shock when the girls was out with were “like ok, it is 8pm time for the next bar” …. And on to Waxy’s we went. As an FYI you can get bacon sandwiches here. A critically important detail if you must satisfy a bacon craving and live in the UAE. By 11pm I was home … my 3rd large format water bottle in hand…. Thankfully, due to my solid Canadian training, and years of learning to listen to that little voice that says, if you have one more drink you will be done for… I was up by 8am the next day … no worse for the wear … trust me, apparently, the Saturday hangover is a much as the tradition as the Friday brunch. I was happy not to partake in that tradition however….
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