TimesToCome

Today we rented a car and drove south, east and north of Dubai. Like Houston civilization drops off very rapidly once you leave the city.

The deserts are far greener than I imagined, though I’m told the plant life drops off rapidly as you get further from the coast. The desert photos are about 50 miles in from the coast, the coast photos are about 50 miles north of downtown. In most areas the sand is white, in others there’s a reddish brown sand overlaying the white sands.

Camels are common and all the highways have fences between the desert and the road, most likely to keep the camels off the highway.

The ocean is beautiful. There are salt water marshes extending way out from the road. There’s a surprising lack of birds at the shore, or anywhere else we’ve been.

The burbs north of the city along hwy 88 are amazing but empty. There’s not only McMansionvilles, but McPalacevilles. Amazing homes all in developments that appear to be abandoned. The homes are so beautiful it’s hard to believe the people won’t come at some point.

We not only passed abandoned developments but entire small cities under construction. Everything being built at once, housing, retail, gov’t buildings. These were still actively under construction. Then at random places along the road you’d find abandoned condo towers.

Lazy day today, one more day here I plan to wander in the city some more tomorrow.