My Abu Dhabi Life #1

My Abu Dhabi life... On the streets of Tourist Club (or Al Zahiya as we're meant to call it now), Arabian Notes in print, Artscape and more.

New glasses and a cheeky weekend aperitif...!

Another reason to have a four wheel drive in the UAE... off road parking!

Being able to park 'off road' does come in handy - though I find this is the case more in Dubai than in Abu Dhabi.

On the way to work, view of the city in the distance.

The traffic was looking pretty good that morning! Most days it's a disaster zone on this turn off on Salam Street during rush hour!

Outside the office near the Abu Dhabi Mall - will these roadworks ever end?!

I'm not sure what's going on with these road works and barriers, but I'm pretty sure they were there when I used to come down to Abu Dhabi for meetings when I lived in Dubai. That was back in 2010/11 so I'm not sure this section of road is ever going to be finished!

Lunch time wandering - investigating a local bakery.

In an effort to prevent myself from freezing to death in the office air con, I went for a quick walk one lunch time to warm up. On my wanderings around the Tourist Club area I found a number of these little street bakeries. You can find them by the amazing smell wafting from the doors a good distance before you see them. After investigating and with translation services from a kind gent, I learned that they bake Pakistani bread - plain and roti with fillings. There are choices of cheese spread, zataar and spicy potato spread mix. Of course after all that curiosity I couldn't not try one, so I went for the spicy potato mix which seemed very popular. Again I discovered another incident of chivalry and kindness on the streets of Abu Dhabi when my new friend - the translator said goodbye and explained as he left the shop that he had already paid for my roti. How kind.

Spicy potato Roti from street bakery.

I'm not entirely sure of the exact price since I didn't have to pay - but from what I could see, one plain bread was Dhs1 and it wasn't very much more at all for the ones with filling.

Pamper time... pedicure at The Nail Spa.

Later on in the week it was time for some pampering and a trip to The Nail Spa, my favourite spot at The Eastern Mangroves Promenade.

And - in super exciting news, one of my colleagues at work randomly discovered a lovely mention of yours truly, Arabian Notes in Fact Abu Dhabi magazine where I was picked as one of Abu Dhabi's best bloggers.

Arabian Notes in Fact Abu Dhabi magazine.

Artscape and A History of the World in 100 Objects exhibition.

One evening after work I went to go check out the Artscape event at Manarat Al Saadiyat. I took the opportunity to have a wander through the 'A History of the World in 100 objects' exhibition and was really impressed, it was really rather good and it's completely free too. It's on until August 1st so you should go take a look while you can. As well as that, there was also heaps of workshops going on for kids and adults so it was a hive of activity. There's still a bunch of workshops running until the end of the month for kids and adults so check those out too (they're only Dhs50 each). You can get hands on with pottery and all sorts - viking jewellery, porcelain painting, metal casting, woodcut print making and loads more really interesting stuff.

Artscape event at Manarat Al Saadiyat - kids pottery workshop.

Inside the chair sculpture at Manarat Al Saadiyat.

I love the quirky chair sculpture at Manarat Al Saadiyat. As did these kids!

The quirky UAE pavilion at Manarat Al Saadiyat.

And that was the week that was. How's your week been?