Moving Out

Dearest Rachel –

Well, this is it. After having unpacked in my stateroom upon arrival – and having accumulated so much since then, it’s time for me to gather everything back up, and move out, if I can.

But first, I have a morning ritual to perform for the last time.

You’re probably wondering why I’m overdosing myself on carbs, rather than consuming protein this morning. To be honest, honey, I think I’ve had enough bacon and sausage and the like to keep me for quite some time. Besides, some of this stuff, I’m not gonna have for a very long time – bacon and sausage I can get elsewhere once I get back home, but bagels and lox, let alone the coffee prepared the way I like it, that’s not happening until I get on another cruise ship, I shouldn’t wonder.

Besides, I can’t linger over breakfast – even if I do take the time to take some in two different places. I’ve still got a lot to stuff into my carry on…

Since I’m going at my own pace, and under my own steam, theoretically, I could leave at any time. However, since I just don’t feel like rushing myself too much, I’ve asked for one of the later departure times: 8:30. even then, it feels like I’m going down to the wire to get everything together. For starters, it’s pretty clear that I’m not going to get everything in my carry-on. Fortunately, it’s not as if the ship or the cruise terminal has any weight limit on what you carry, or how it’s conveyed.

Ironically, when I arrive at the Safari Lounge in order to await my summons, I discover that they’ve only called the first eight tags (for reference, my tag number is 22). Basically, it’s going to be very much like any other shore excursion; arrive on time, and you find yourself waiting for a while.

Or so I think. As it turns out, getting folks off the ship is a relatively efficient process. Royal Caribbean has plenty of practice, after all. I’m on solid ground – permanently, this time – before nine, and trying to find my way to the taxi stand.

I have to do some mental calculations as I’m watching the meter; everything is in dirhams, of course, which I figure as being roughly three and a half to the dollar. It’s not the most straightforward of calculations, but it gets the job done.

We arrive at just about ten o’clock, and yet, the joking prediction I made while in the line for the taxis proves prescient; they’re already ready for me.

At the same time, as impressive as the room is, it doesn’t seem right to just stay put all day. After a couple of hours to try and avoid the hottest hours of the day, I can’t help but go out while it’s still probably way too hot. And I actually manage to get as far as the Burj Khalifa and the Dubai Mall before deciding against riding to the top of the former; the trip would actually cost more than my hotel accommodations!

So, I decide to make my way back. However, since I’d made my way there underground at certain places, I didn’t think I could find my way back the way I came – and I didn’t.

I did, however, manage to get back, at which point I stopped at the shopping area right across the street from the hotel. I don’t know why I preferred this to the places that were available at the Dubai Mall; maybe it’s just that I was looking for something exotic at the mall that wasn’t there, maybe it’s a certain unexpected twinge of nostalgia for the place. I’d already seen at the Bay View Mall. Whatever it was, I decided to try something that I hadn’t for a very long time, rather than something completely new. Although, there was something new about it, too…

I may have to rethink anchovies on pizza.

While I was putting the rest of these video logs together, I found myself staring out the window at what of the Dubai skyline I could see. There really is a contrast between the apartment blocks directly outside my window, and the business or entertainment districts to, I believe, the east. I had to show it to you. 

And I realize that this is giving The the day short shift, but as I’m now in the airport, waiting for my seat to be called so that I can board, I want to make sure this is ready to send to you, since I won’t be able to contact you for a while. And with that being said, keep an eye on me, honey, and wish me luck. I’m going to need it.