Dubai, but real quick

Dubai has a reputation for glitz and glamour. Sure, it reminds me a bit of Vegas - Sin City with much less sin (or perhaps it's just further underground) but despite all the skyscrapers and neon lights, you can't forget that you're still in the Muslim world. A blend of old and new that some tourists seem to forever every now and then.

This was our second trip to Dubai and a really brief one on our way into Kabul. After a 13 hour flight, we climbed off the plane with our thousands of pounds of luggage (not really but it definitely felt like that) and went straight to the airport desk of the JW Marriott. Since it's summer and REALLY FREAKING HOT in Dubai, we got an awesome rate to stay at the JW. When the car included in our stay (perk 1) pulled up, the driver handed us washclothes cooled and refreshed with mint (perk 2) for the ride. It was past 9pm but still pretty hot so we needed it. They kind of had a weird check-in structure though. The downstairs desk sent us up to the third floor for check-in, even though there wasn't anyone in line in front of us. Makes sense if we'd been "elite" members swept upstairs but that really wasn't the case. In any event, no complaints here. Our late check in time meant that our cheap-o room was sold-out and that the JW was FORCED to upgrade us to the executive suite (perk 3)! Not the nicest I've ever seen (if I wanted to be a snob about it, I'd say that the furniture seemed a bit dated) but nevertheless, one of the nicest we've ever stayed in - there was a full living/dining room and two bathrooms with an amazing shower. And yes, the picture on the top was from our hotel room. A sticky on the desk advised praying Muslims of the direction towards Mecca and how to hear the Holy Quran. Pretty helpful, I imagine.

The hotel was gigantic and pretty much all we saw of Dubai on this trip. This really pretty atrium was actually inside the Marriott. There didn't seem to be much else in the neighborhood though so we might be another hotel with more "walking around" sights next time but man, this was a good night's sleep after a long plane trip.