After we returned to Dubai, we took a short trip to its northern neighbor, the Emirate of Sharjah.
After we returned to Dubai, we took a short trip
to its northern neighbor, the Emirate of Sharjah.
The road to Sharjah lead past the sprawling Hyatt complex.
Just before Sharjah, we entered a University City,
a huge educational complex built just 11 years ago.
The campus consists of a wide boulevard lined by a string of colleges on either side.
As we drove past it, one building after another peeked between the palm trees.
Men and women study separately.
At the end of the boulevard we made a short stop...
...and walked around the American University of Sharjah complex.
Sharjah has a much more cultural feel than Dubai.
It is less posh and shiny, but you get more of a history there.
There are many palaces and mosques to choose from.
Even their souqs have a quaint charm.
In one of them we ran into a TV crew again.
We also entered one of the historic houses...
...for a bit of original architecture.
Vast majority of Sharjah looked like the old part of Dubai.
This is the so called Crystal Plaza...
...which is located next to the famous Central Souq...
...which is essentially a Mall...
...overflowing with Oriental paraphernalia.
From there we walked past the Union monument...
...to King Faisal mosque...
...surrounded by a big public park.
On the other side of the highway, we found another fish market...
...adjacent to a little marina.
As the sun started to set, we returned to the souq and drove back to the ship.