Grandma & Grandpa Andrews

When we decided to move out to Dubai, we honestly never thought that we would be able to convince anyone on either side of the family to come out to the 'scary' Middle East for a visit. And just when I had accepted that fact, Camille suggested that if we had a baby, then surely that would bring someone out. Oh wait.... "Um, what was that Camille?"........ "No, I would never write something like that"....... "You know how I like to joke around".... OK, let's get serious.

So, my parents recently came out to visit and it was so good to see them. It is weird to think that we have gone a year and a half without seeing family but we knew what we were getting ourselves into. Big thanks to my Aunt Terry for setting my parents up with Delta tickets for their flight, and business class at that. I think that was the deal breaker for my Dad.

On this day we decided to get a little taste of the local culture so we went to the Jumeirah Mosque, which is the only mosque that they allow non-Muslims to enter with a guided tour.

Here the guide is demonstrating how to properly wash your hands, face, and feet before each of the five daily prayers.

Inside the mosque we are getting a little introduction into Islam and the purpose of the mosque.

A view upward.

Dubai has created a center for learning and understand to help deal with all of the crazy ideas that the 'western' world has about the Middle East and Islam. :)

We decided to go for their lunch discussion. The ladies that led the discussion admitted that the food was mainly Indian food, which is just as well because I wasn't looking forward to traditional Arab lunch of dates and camel milk.

Here we are enjoying our meal with one of the ladies from the center dishing up her food.

Classic shot of the Burj Al Arab.
I couldn't talk them into going for afternoon tea that costs $100.

Picking up seashells for the grand kids.

I've seen that look from Dad before and it always means that he has some new idea for the cabin/Sunbeam so if you see his next project with some strange shapes, you'll know where he got his inspiration.

Evelyn doing what she does best.

Grandma doing some baby sitting.

No complaints from Evelyn.

On the outer edge of the Palm Jumeirah, walking to the Atlantis Hotel.

Sammy the whale shark giving us a close-up view at the Atlantis aquarium.

A better shot of Sammy just showing off.

The lobby in front of the aquarium.

More Atlantis.

We stopped in and grabbed some cold stone in the hotel.

Walking out the door to head back to the airport.

It was great to have my parents in town and we wish that they could have stayed longer. Our doors are always open if any one else gets the idea to really get away, although I understand that some of you are waiting to see where we go next.