“This is Festival Center. Take us to Festival City, please.”
On Friday, Mike and I booked a last minute hotel and scurried off to Dubai. While trying to locate our hotel on the map, I suddenly realized what we had done.
On a previous trip to Dubai Museum, Mike, Shauna and I ran across the street to use the facilities at a nearby hotel. When the doorman opened the door I had that experience when your eyes open wide and a look of disbelief mixed with slight horror crosses your face. Here, at this hotel, someone thought it a good idea to dress a small androgynous Filipino in a full on genie costume. Tiny vest? Check. Poofy pants? Check. Pointy curled-up-toe shoes? Check. Giant turban? You betcha. The works, people.
So you can see why I started laughing when it all suddenly clicked. We were staying at the genie hotel! Unfortunately, either the genie had the weekend off or it was out granting wishes. The instant photo I was so looking forward to did not happen.
We loitered out front a bit waiting for my car and the genie!
After checking into our Arabian themed room (down to the shampoos), we ventured out to Festival City.
Our goal for the evening was to visit Jamie Oliver‘s recently opened restaurant, Jamie’s Italian. We knew it was located near the “Spice Parking” at Festival City. Following the map, we ended up at Festival Center. We couldn’t find the proper parking and something didn’t feel right. The place was supposed to feature outdoor seating along the water. We were standing in front of an unfinished mall. The area marked on the map was pretty big so we decided to have a taxi take us to Festival City… wherever that was.
I think Mike was more interested in roller blading than taking my picture.
Turns out… we were at Festival City! After rolling about 10 feet in the taxi and speaking with the driver, we realized we were just on the opposite side of the mall. Oops! It turned out to be a fairly expensive mistake. Rolling ten feet in the cab cost us 10AED!
The restaurant was nice but a bit too spendy for the casual atmosphere. Luckily, the food and drinks were pretty good.
After dinner we walked around a bit and arrived at a nearby carnival. The pirate ship is such good classic fun. Watching the lady’s sheilas go flying made me giggle almost as much as the ride.
After a lengthy but failed search for Red Mango, we stopped for Frosties at Wendy’s. The only Wendy’s either of us has seen in the Emirates.
xo, jill
PS. Ann, you should know that part of the search for Red Mango included these words: “Red Mango reminds me of my friend Ann and I want to eat it!!!”
I just caught up on a bunch of posts. Your photos are too much to take in! The adventure! The excitement! The boy! Oh yes!!
lovely pictures, this looks like a fun place!