Ah, the best laid plans.  I had thought to take a ferry from the old town along the coast to the Dubai Marina, virtually the other end of Dubai.  I’d walk around there for a bit, checking out some of the big hotels, boats, waterfront, etc, then take the metro back as it’s elevated and runs down the main road so I could see all the fancy buildings.  But, I had a nice slow breakfast in the dining room conversing with a British couple which made me reluctant to hurry.  The weather was quite hazy so there was probably little I’d see from the ferry, and I just didn’t feel like exploring anymore.

So instead I opted just to take the free shuttle back to the Dubai Mall as I had quite enjoyed walking around there before.  Unfortunately I forgot to look at the departure times and I had to wait 70 minutes for the bus!  That I was sanguine about but when the bus finally arrived and I was pushed and shoved by the Russians storming the door it really got my gander up!  I had to pull down my sunglasses and put on some calming music on my iPhone to restore my equilibrium.  Enough rude tourists!!

Luckily we were dropped at the Fashion Mall section and being ushered into the glamorous world of glitz & excess & Michael Bublé and I was instantly soothed.  So I walked my daily 6 miles (I really must calibrate this phone!) in the pleasant air-conditioning, with no desire to go anywhere else.

I was lucky to squeeze on to the return bus to the ship as it only runs every 2 hours.  This I accomplished by standing at the front by the bus door, pointedly ignoring the long queue snaking along its length.  I felt a small twinge of guilt but also a bit rebellious as all my previous good manners have been trampled on. At least this way the crowd pushed me into a seat.  Take that, I say.  Once on board I raced to the upper buffet for a restorative glass of white wine and lost myself in the magical world of Harry Potter where they can just zap away their problems.

It’s the last night of the cruise tonight and the dining room is probably less than ten percent full.  I guess everyone is either in their rooms packing or out on the town living it up.  I felt obliged to make one last appearance in the dining room as my two waiters have been so good in taking care of me.  Tomorrow I move to a hotel for the last day of my trip.