Good riddance 2016 ...

The start to the day was fabulous. The fig that rolls in from the Arabian Gulf is simply astonishing and doesn't bode well for a night of new years festivities when you can't see across the street.

The view from my hotel room

I spent the day at the Dubai Mall. Nothing like the mall in Bendigo. This centre is everything they say. It's big. Flashy. Gordy. Massive. Expensive and truly phenomenal. Pictures don't do it justice but here's a couple.

My first glimpse of the Burj Khalifa

This is an aerial view of just one of the internal walkways

This walk of water and life size figures dwarfs the shoppers

World's largest Donner Kebab. 

I'm now sitting here in The Town Square of Dubai, in the shadow of The Burj Khalifa having an iced mocha. Mind you anywhere within a kilometre or so could be in the shadow of this modern wonder of the world.

It's hot but the breeze is cooling and the vibe is festive and celebratory being the last day of 2016. The people (and their lots of them even at 3:45pm) are friendly and generous, welcoming and hospitable. This end of year event has been organised like a military operation there are literally 1000s of volunteers, security, officials and cleaners. Roads are cordoned off, even the Dubai Mall had sections channelling people through certain areas to avoid congestion and disruption to the set up. The massive water park was closed today to enable the spectacular that we all await with anticipation. It's, like most of Dubai, a vision in motion. This is more than a festival, it's more than the changing of a calendar, it's bigger than an event, it's a spectacle of a magnitude greater than any other I've witnessed. 

I have to wonder, and I guess I will find out, where will all these people go when they need to use the toilet In the next 8 hours. I can't believe I'm actually about to face this ordeal. It's longer than the flight from Munich. I've got plenty of water, some snacks and I'm wearing my comfy shoes so here goes. Back to the throng and march on to the viewing area with the other 999,999 others. Who knows how I get back to the hotel after all this. It's a bit of a walk but I guess I can sleep on the plane. 

Scene Two. After deciding to walk further down the street to see if another vantage point is available I decide that just hanging around these restaurants would be a good idea. Forget that. I took a seat on a street bench and was quickly told to move on. I stood at the edge of the street and again, told to move on. "crowd control" they said. There are designated viewing areas and you must use them. So, off I went to follow the crowd to the family area. Nope. I couldn't even manage seeking in with others pretending to be part of another family. Skin tone. Apparently.



You can see why I was keen to stay sitting in the restaurant for the evening. Even at $200 Australian I was keen. 

  

Off to the bachelor's viewing area down by the creek. Dubai creek. Sounded dubious. Anyhow, in for a penny! Off I trotted with all the other singles. Single men and lots of them. Further and further it seemed to be taking us away from where the action seemed to be. 

It reminds of this morning taking my first train. I, thinking I'm so clever working out tickets and money, get on the train wondering why all these women are looking at me. It's not as if I'm the only white person on the train. Then a very pleasant lady tapped me on the shoulder, figuratively (I don't think they would touch a male) and politely explained that the section was for women and children only. She pointed to the other end, the end that was cheek by jowl men. Sheepishly apologising, I sauntered off to the mens section. I guess it's nice to know that women can travel safely in what appears to be an overly represented male population. My assumption, as I don't know the stats, but judging by tonight's "singles" viewing area there seems to be stacks more men. 

Any how, me and a lot of other men are sitting by the Creekside waiting for the show of a life time. And lots of mossies. Oh I found out about the toilets. There are those mobile toilets blocks oddly situated on the sidewalk at some traffic lights. 

Eventually six or so hours later the show begins. Crikey, this is totally amazing stuff. Where they can't put fireworks clearly has no impact. That Burj Khalifa has a totally different personality at night time and obviously bipolar on this night. I can't help but wonder if the residents get as good a view of this from the inside. Technicolor dreams up and and down the tower all over the city along the creek everywhere there are fireworks. Too many to take in. Looking at one display at the risk of missing some behind you. You can see the flows from other areas if the city. Truly amazing.

So this was the bachelor's viewing area. Slightly further away!!!

It was a slow start

Then it started. 

And on it went ...

And on ...

And on ...

Bringing in other buildings

And getting to the finale ...

Seefeld, Munich and Dubai. All in a days work ...

It's over. My Odyssey has concluded, save a couple of days in Dubai. I'm writing this sitting in Dubai airport waiting for my flight to Melbourne. So the couple of days has been and well and truly gone.

I stayed in Bur Dubai which isn't the most salubrious areas of Dubai or as you'd expect Dubai to be. The hotel was fine. In fact it was really comfortable. Probably the best sleep I've had for 6 weeks. Waking to the Call to Prayers was a bit of a culture shock one day one though. When I looked out the window the entire city was shrouded in thick fog so that added to the mysteriousness of the Calling from the plethora of mosques.

I went walking in the afternoon and thought there were so many mosques. Like, they're everywhere. Then I had to pinch myself a bit. I am in a Muslim country and, when you think about, we have a church on every corner!! The afternoon Call to Prayers came when I was out and it is so much louder than I had expected but I likened it to the church bells ringing through all those European valleys. I followed a group of men to see where they were going. Not too conspicuously, well a white bloke in the middle of old Dubai does stand out regardless. I turned a corner and watched as the streets were lined with prayer mats and shop doorways and any spare space really accommodated worshippers doin' their thing.

I then went down an alleyway. The type you wouldn't go down if it were dark. And came out in an open space where a building must have once been. A big sandy square about the size of 2 tennis courts and there were about 20 blokes playing cricket. One outfielder said "hello, mate where are from" in almost an Oxford accent. When I said "Australia" he laughed and said "your team hasn't been playing too well" to which I replied "they're not my team". Well, he laughed and laughed and asked me to play for a while. I thought, why not? It's not as if I've got anything to lose. They were a bunch of Pakistani blokes and they wanted me to bat. This is a sandy block about as level as fallow paddock with a large piece of rubber matting as the batting wicket. No running just bowling, batting and fielding. Needless to say I was dispatched after a few balls. Caught on the rebound of the block of apartments at deep cover.

I took my leave after shaking the hands of all 20. I'll remember this day. I don't think this would have happened in the new Dubai area where it's all swank, concrete and skyscrapers. I went back to the hotel and had a nap and woke at 8:00pm. Knackered!!!

This is the view this morning

Out there is the Arabian Gulf. Just at the end of the street. 

On every corner. Nearly

I couldn't resist this piece of art. 

Packing up in Seefeld

It's our last night in Seefeld and we've packed ready to head off early in the morning. We've had an absolutely wonderful week here even though the snow was disappointing at least we could get our and do stuff. The kids went ice skating and toboganning. We walked lots and relaxed at the amazing indoor pool. We are sad to leave Haus Elisabeth and our wonderful hosts.

This has been our house for the last week. 

Our view. Look at that blue sky!

The afternoon sun catching the Alps in the final stages of the daylight 

Haus Elisabeth had some interesting decor. Our decorated badger. 

A small hawk

And a capercaillie to round it off. 

A day trip to Innsbruck

We decided to catch the train to Innsbruck for a day trip. About 45 minutes away we saw some spectacular scenery across the valley to the opposite side. The train is so high above the valley the view is awesome inspiring of snow capped, rugged Alps. Winding down to Innsbruck you get a great view of the airport where the planes look like toys.

Innsbruck is nothing that exciting or at least new Innsbruck. It's just another European city. But once you get through to "old" Innsbruck it's a different story. Narrow streets, exquisite old buildings with painted exteriors. The Alps hovering high above the city from just about every single.

Beautifully exterior decorations

The roof top of this verandah is gold!!!

Look at those Alps. 

The Inn River runs through Innsbruck. 

In every direction there are these Alps 

And again ...

Decorations depicting fairytales. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

Little Red Riding Hood

The Swarovski Crystal Christmas Tree. There's 140 crystals within this tree. I think it said this is the biggest if it's kind. 

This is the oldest hotel in Innsbruck. Dated 1340. 

It's Christmas Day and it's snowing....a little

Here we are! Christmas Day in Seefeld in Tirol and it's snowing. Only a little but we live in hope that as the day progresses it will get heavier.

We had a Christmas Eve dinner in the village and walked home to have dessert supplied by our gorgeous host, Annette. She and a friend spend a day baking so they can give away beautiful homemade gifts at Christmas. She arrived at our door last evening bearing a plate of the most amazing biscuits. Over a dozen different types: we were gobsmacked!!

Some of them were as small as your thumbnail!!

We will mooch the rest of the day watching the snow fall. Perhaps a walk. The kids might even go toboganning!! And a late lunch of roast turkey and pork.

Ok back again. I've lost my phone when arriving in Seefeld so the photo snapping has been slowed down somewhat. I've been able to get a few pics on the tablet so they will have to for any future posts.

Strasbourg to Munich to Seefeld in Tirol

Leaving Strasbourg our aim is to meet Melinda in Munich and Ollie in Seefeld in Tirol in Austria. Our train actually joins Melinda's train from Basel in Stuttgart but the bloody thing is that long we didn't have time to find her.

A night in Munich which is the day after the terrorist attack at the Berlin Christmas Market so it has taken the edge of our day a bit. We had a delightful dinner of roasted goose and a quick whip around the market in Marianplatz, central Munich and back to our hotel.

The following day we travel to Seefeld in Tirol in Austria where we will have Christmas. The train trip takes us through some beautiful country and particularly so where the snow has remained. Truly a winter's wonderland.

What's the fuss about?

The Christmas Markets in Europe are nothing like anything I've ever seen in Australia and even more impressive than the little bit I saw 20 or so years ago. The extent to which the communities go with decorative pursuits across each town and village and city is spell binding. I can't imagine so much of Australia's public space being decorated without it being damaged or defaced in some way. It's community at it's best. I'm sure there may well be pockets of vandalism here too but we saw no evidence of it.

The market stalls are wooden (generally) structures, purpose built, and usually lined up in a village type arrangement. Each stall selling their speciality from the huge array of traditional Christmas products. From Christmas decorations of any and every colour to pain d'epice (ginger cakes) the size of small houses to sausages in rolls with saurkraut, onions and cheese nothing like the sausages sold outside Bunnings. You name it. If it says Christmas it will be available somewhere. And let's not forget the mulled wine or gluhwein with its heady scented aroma and warming spiciness that just shouts it's Christmas.

You can colour theme your decorations. What you see here in red was replicated in white, blue, green and on and on

Fruit decorations of all types and sizes. 

Tiny bits and bobs to make your own decorations. 

Figurines ...

And figurines 

And. Figurines. 

Christmas lights ...

And Christmas lights. 

And you couldn't refuse a chocolate apple. Just like a candy apple but chocolate. 

Strasbourg ...

Why we haven't been to Strasbourg before baffles me; it is purely magical and must be on the list for next time. A day just isn't long enough!! After hitting speeds of 308 kms/hr in the TGV we arrived in time to drop our bags and take a quick walk into the world famous Christmas Market. Strasbourg had the record for the best market in Europe and it is easy to see why. Despite the backdrop being so amazingly gorgeous, the market (or markets) are also immense and beautifully decorated. Each square has a different market throughout the city centre. Each one has a different feel or theme or speciality. One was the guest nation, Portugal, one decorations, one alternative (we might call it a bit greenie, they used recycled shipping containers rather than the cute wooden stalls and sold recycled gifts) another might be found oriented: although food and mulled wines weren't far from any of the markets.

You can see the weather is decidedly more wintery than it was in Paris and cooler too!!!

You can see where the inspiration for ginger bread houses comes from. 

The main city square hosts the famous Strasbourg Christmas tree

Yes. It's us ...

The decorating of shops is exceptional

Dinner that night was a traditional Alsace-Lorraine meal starting with flambee tarte. Like a pizza but different bacon, onion and Munster cheese. 

I think we approve of the flambee tarte!!

Our neighbours during dinner!!!

The next day we walked through Petite France and we were blown away at the beauty of it.

Strasbourg's own Notre Dame looms over everything.  

I think it is even more impressive than the one in Paris

Even at night time the shops are amazing and the street lighting is exceptional be too. Everywhere you look there is Christmas decoration.