Cultural Visit

Our second day started off with a cultural tour and brunch at Sheikh Mohammed bi Rashid Centere for Cultural Understanding.  The tour started from the Bedouins that settled in area due its natural resource of water, which lead to a booming trade and pearl business.

They used black goats hair to create their first tents, followed by coral bricks set together by gypsum. The coral bricks still allowed the desert breezes to move through the homes in order to keep inside cooler. 

Additional open towers were build with a X shaped structures inside, this acted as additional cooling by directing the winds down and into the homes.  Our tour wrapped up with some time inside of a most learning about the practices and principles of Islam.

Following that we gathered for a family style meal with our guide while we asked questions about the region, religion, and residents of the United Arab Emirates.

The question and answer session lead to questions about the typical dress that some followers of Islam take part of.  Our guide, Nasif, taught us of the thobes (male) and abayas (female).  He explained the purpose was for modesty, to not flaunt your wealth, beauty, knowledge, additionally it is so all individuals are on an equal field as each other especially during the 5 daily prayers.

Dubai: Arrival Day

Our travel lasted about 17 hours and 30 minutes, a long day to say the least.  Our program participants gathered at the Philadelphia Airport at 7:30 am, with a take of time of 11:15 am.  The first leg of our journey was a 12 hour flight from Philadelphia to Doha, Qatar, which meant we arrived in Qatar at 6:45 in the morning with a connecting flight to Dubai taking off at 8 am.  We deplaned, rushed through a security check point and navigated to our next gate.  Fortunately we had enough time to sit down, some people found water and snacks, before boarding.

The next flight from Doha, Qatar to Dubai, United Arab Emirates was a little over an hour, arriving at 10:10 am. Our next step was to clear immigration, which easily took an hour.  Between our flight and many others coming into the airport there were hundreds of people waiting to move through.  As we slowly trickled out of immigration we collected our bags, exchanged or withdrew money, stopped at the Duty Free shop and congregated until we had found everyone.  Fortunately, no ones bags were lost over 6,000+ miles of travel.

We found Dr. Sohail just outside of the arrivals and preceded to the bus.  At this point, my body was completely confused on what day and time it was.  We arrived and checked into our hotel, 4 people to 2 bedroom apartment, and then headed upstairs for a quick lunch at the hotel.  Our next stop was a program introduction at the American University in the Emirates. And then finally, and as an attempt to beat as much jet lag as possible in the coming days, we headed out for a group welcome dinner.

Dinner was a three course Lebanese meal at Kan Zaman in the Al Shindagha Heritage Village, which is on the banks of the Dubai Creek. First were a tapas style appetizers, everything from hummus and tabouli to chicken livers and falafel stuffed with beef and pine nuts. 

Next was an array of grilled and roasted chicken, beef and lamp, followed by a dessert of semolina and sweetened cream cheese. 

Finally, the group ordered several different flavors of shisha and relaxed until departure at 10:30 pm.  We all rolled into our beds around midnight and caught some much needed sleep.

Kensington Tea!

Several people have asked me about tea in London.  A few weeks back a few of the other Drexel students in London and I went to Kensington Palace for tea.

The Orangery at Kensington Palace

I got the Signature Orange Tea, which included:

A pot of Rooibos tea (orange tea)

and finger sandwiches, an orange scented scone with clotted cream and strawberry jam, and two pastries.

So that is what a typical Afternoon Tea looks like.

Liverpool: Where it all began!

I had a few days free after Dad left London, so I decided on a few day trips to do, one of which was to visit Liverpool.  If you are reading this, I assume you know me personally, but I'll explain the extent the Beatles have impacted my life.

I have grown up with the Beatles being played everywhere.  During our childhood my brother Marc, a family friends daughter, Christina, and I knew the words to just about every album and would begin to sing the next song on the CD before it even started.  Yes, our fathers, who were the people who introduced us to the Beatles, found some entertainment in skipping to the next track just at the right time, and then hearing us complain how the skipped a song.  Also, during conversations my Dad would ask us trivia questions about the Beatles, the lyrics, the songs.  For example, Martha in the song "Martha My Dear" was Paul McCartney's dog.  One question I can never get right is when we are listening to song from the same time period that is not the Beatles, "Who is playing on this song?"  I can never pick it out but 9 times out of 10 it is one of the Beatles.

Traditions have also grown from the Beatles.  Every time that Ringo Starr comes to the States on tour, Dad and I go to see him.  I believe the count is at 13 times so far, crazy some may say, but it is a father/daughter tradition that I love, which is why I couldn't pass up the opportunity to is Ringo just outside of London 2 days after arriving in June.

And finally, there are stories, about how my Dad was in surgery when John Lennon was shot and pronounced dead.  I've heard about once they knew surgery went fine and he would be home soon, they were more concerned about telling him that John had been shot and the history of the Beatles and the group that he loved had changed forever.  Then there was the time that my Preschool Principal saw me standing alone outside of the ticket office in a casino at 13 years old.  Dad and I were waiting for tickets to a Ringo show and to say the least, Mrs. Guzzi was surprised to see me.

There is it, I love the Beatles, not just for their music and their popularity, but also for what it reminds me of.

So I booked a day trip to Liverpool, starting with a train to Liverpool at 6:30 am, which required me getting up at 5:00 am, then a bus tour around Liverpool city center and its outskirts, and finally a walk through the Beatles Story Museum.

Leaving from Euston Station.

Liverpool Lime Street Station

Magical Mystery Tour Guide bus, owned and operated by a man who played Stuart Sutfliffe in a movie about the Beatles.  Stuart was a childhood friend of Johns that originally played with the Beatles, he met Astrid Kirchherr and left the group.  He later pasted away from a hemorrhage. 

Street that Ringo Starr was born on.

Penny Lane!

"In Penny Lane there is a barber showing photographs

Of every head he's had the please to know

And all the please that come and go

Stop and say hello."

This is that shop, not the same barber, but the same location.

The house the George Harrison was born in.

Strawberry Field's gate.

John was said to have written about Strawberry Field's because he grew up around the corner with his Aunt.  Strawberry Field's is on the grounds of a Salvation Army house that John spoke fondly of.

Mathew Street sign, along with a statue of John on the "A Hard Day's Night" hotel.

Mathew Street

Wall of Fame.  This wall has a engraved brick for every band that has played in the Cavern Club, many famous names, along with some unknowns are on the wall.

Walking down into the depths of the Cavern Club.

You know, just hanging out with John against the Cavern Club Wall of Fame.

Outside of the Beatles Story

John's first guitar, he was originally taught how to play the banjo by his mother.

Photo of John's first public performance.

They had school photos of the Beatles and other important people in the development of the Beatles through out the years.

Some of their first promotional photos as the Beatles as we know them now.

A recreation of the Cavern Club, although I much rather the actual location that was a 10 minute walk away.

There was a display showing the Beatles first recording session at Abbey Road Studios.  My questions, why do they always make Ringo look so weird?

This one is for you Dad: The Beatles fighting Muhammad Ali.

I was walking through the last bits of the museum and they had a section on the Beatles after the break up.  I stumbled upon this and though, "Hm, this looks familiar."  This is one of 25 artist proofs for Ringo's Retrospect collection, there were also 500 memorabilia prints done.  The reason this looks so familiar, is that I have one of those 500 prints.

Ringo and the names of his many All Starr Band members

John's first set of famous glasses, they were previously associated with older women because they were the National Health care System's standard issue frame which typically only older people wore, but John turned them into fashion.

John and Yoko in Amsterdam

A Beatles themed Starbucks, the architecture is the same design as the Cavern Club.

The John Lennon Peace Monument, unveiled by Cynthia and Julian Lennon on what would have been John's 70th Birthday.

The day in Liverpool was amazing.  Before going, I would have easily admitted that I enjoyed the Beatles music and that they have had a big affect on my life.  However, I wouldn't have been able to say I understood "Beatlemania", the fainting, the screaming, but after that visit, I fully understand.  The museum made sure to present the Beatles not as musical icons, but as men.  They all had their fair share of struggles, and yet they all have been more than willing to give back to the people that made them famous and the city that enabled them to thrive.

Time for Dad to Fly Home

Since it was Dad's last day in London we decided to take it easy and enjoy a walk in Hyde Park.  After dropping off his luggage in my room we headed towards Hyde Park and Kensington Palace.  From there we walked towards the Albert Memorial and the Diana Memorial Fountain.  By then we were thirsty so we got a Coke, in a glass bottle, from a cafe on the Serpentine, sat on the grass and enjoyed the beautiful day.  We were extremely lucky that the weather was warm, slightly breezy, and dry from Dad's entire stay.  His flight was at 5:00 pm so we left for London Heathrow around 2:00 pm.  Once we got to airport we checked his bag and had one last coffee.  Saying goodbye was hard, but we both knew that there were only four weeks inbetween his flight home and mine.  I had so much fun during Dad's trip to London and Paris, it is something I will never forget!

More London Sites

After our morning visit to Abbey Road as mentioned in my last post, we walked around the area, got a coffee and some breakfast and then headed for the Tower of London.

The Yeomen of the Guard, also known as the Beefeaters, are body guards of the British Monarch.  They live within the walls of the Tower of London and run the day to day operations.  The E R on his uniform stands for Elizabeth II Regina, meaning Queen Elizabeth II.  If Charles becomes King one day, the uniform will read C R.

Tower of London

Traitors' Gate, this leads to and from the Thames River and is where prisoners would be brought into the tower.  Most notably Anne Boleyn, Catherine Howard, and Queen Elizabeth passed through here.

We followed a Beefeaters tour around the complex with a very funny guide.

The Jewel House where the Crown Jewels are held.  We couldn't take photos inside of course, but I can say they were beautiful.  The Crown Jewels were moved here after they were stolen from Westminster Abbey in 1303.  The Imperial State Crown, Imperial Crown of India, the Crown of Mary Modena, and the Crown of the Queen Mother are all held here.  The Crown of the Queen Mother features the Koh-i-Noor Diamond which is 105 carats.  The Imperial State Crown features 2,686 diamonds, 273 pearls, 17 sapphires, 11 emeralds, and 5 rubies.  Not bad, if you as me.

Of course there are Royal Guards stationed outside of the Jewel House and they march up and down the length of the building.

This is where the private executions took place within the Tower of London.  Most of the executions were public and up on Tower Hill which is outside of the walls.  The base says, "Gentle visitor pause here awhile. Where you stand death cut away the light of many days. Here jeweled names were broken from the vivid thread of life.  May they rest in peace while we walk the generations around their strife and courage under these restless skies."

The second base names those who were executed on the green.

William, Lord Hasting 1483

Queen Anne Boleyn 1536

Margaret Pole, Countess of Salisbury 1541

Queen Catherine Howard 1542

Jane Boleyn, Viscountess Rochford 1542

Lady Jane Grey 1554

Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex 1601

Highlanders Farquhar Shaw 1743

Samuel Macpherson 1743

Malcolm Macpherson 1743

We left the tower of London and had a fantastic meeting with some great people.

We originally got connected to Ornella Mastrogiovanni through Facebook.  My Dad and Ornella had originally started talking and he mentioned that I would be visiting London during the summer.  Through pure coincidence Ornella e-mailed me a week before Dad came to visit saying that she would be in London to pick up her daughter from a dance school and wanted to know if we could meet.  We arranged to meet at one of the train stations and have lunch.  It was amazing to meet new found family, hopefully we will see them again.

After our lunch with Ornella we were craving something sweet and we had yet to have proper tea while Dad was in London so we headed to Selfridge's.  We both had the Cream Tea, which included a pot of tea, a plain scone, a fruit scone, jam, and clotted cream.  We also got a coffee walnut piece of cake.

Finally, we headed for the London Eye.

View from the base.

One of the pods that is on the "observation wheel".  Each pod holds about 20 people, but getting into the pod is slightly nerve wracking.  The wheel never stops moving, but the wheel is large enough that one full rotation takes 30 minutes.

View of Parliament, Big Ben, and Westminster Abbey from the top.

After our trip around the wheel we decided to take a leisurely walk back to our neighborhood, but we were exhausted by 11:00 pm so we split ways and agreed to meet the next morning.