Dubai, London

Dubai was great, took a morning bus tour around most of those fabulous buildings although the bus stopped at malls not the buildings. Mind you, some of the malls had great architectural details too.  I did enjoy hopping off at a souk in a beachside resort. I wandered around gazing at all the fantastic carved wooden elements of the building more than all the stuff on sale. Then I went on an abra (small boat) ride around the canals of the resort, worth seeing & relaxing.
Dan picked me up later & we went for a v nice tea with Lisa & Trisha. Then into Dubai Mall & out the back which just happened to look towards the fantastic, impressive Burj Khalifa. We were in time for a lovely fountain/light show to the background song of The Prayer. They actually have the shows every half hour but the music changes. The Burj Khalifa is amazing to see against the night sky & to stand below gazing up was v impressive. I'm hoping to go up to the Observation Deck when I'm there in August. Google Burj Khalifa & read about it.
An early start yesterday, pickup shuttle to the airport, & a 7 hour flight to London. Then I had the challenge of negotiating 2 suitcases on the Underground Tube with a train change along the way. I succeeded & met Karen for a short walk to her place. She & Paul live on the Isle of Dogs, next to the Thames. Really! I'm sitting in their lounge looking over the Thames to the night-time lit Shard!
Today I went for an 8 mile approx walk to Tower Bridge, to the Gherkin, past Fenchurch Street Station, (Monopoly anyone?) past Dickens' Inn & all the way back again. I wandered through All Hallows' by the Tower Church to discover St Francis' Crypt Chapel & St Clare's Oratory, my favourite saints. Along the way back I heard an alarm ringing behind me, kept walking, then realised 1. I was on a small, low bridge, 2. there was an alarm ringing in front of me too. Most disconcerting. When I stepped off the bridge barriers came down behind me so I asked a waiting cyclist why. He said the street would move! So I watched the street/bridge lift itself up, rotate & slide sideways, tucking itself in neatly. V nicely done! It allowed a boat into the lock then rotated, slid back & became a street again. It was quite something to watch. Certainly a new experience for me.