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We arrived at London-Heathrow as peacefully as we had departed Detroit. Emerson slept for the balance of the flight (save for me waking her up briefly for a midnight diaper change) and had a couple of bananas for breakfast during our decent into Heathrow. After a fairly quick trip through customs and baggage claim, we were met by our limo driver, which Julie from the Allen House staff had arranged for us (at about the same cost as Heathrow Express tickets and with less hassle).

Kensington Gardens

Kensington Gardens

As always, it’s good to be back in Kensington ensconced at the Allen House. Since our flight arrived later in the day (around noon), we didn’t get into central London until almost 2pm. To keep awake and ward off jet lag, we headed for Kensington Gardens to enjoy the fresh air and allow Emerson to run around like a heathen toddler. The day was delightful… mostly sunny, slightly cool, and with just a gentle wisp of a wind. After dinner, we picked up a quick take-away dinner, watched some British television (which I always find vastly superior to US programming), and turned in for bed by 9pm.

Our flight from Tampa was uneventful, and we arrived in Detroit on time. Upon arrival, we went to the Sky Club were Emerson took her afternoon nap and the rest of us whiled away a couple of hours. Following her nap, we wandered around the airport for an hour or two (highlight: funky tunnel between the terminals), had a middling dinner of hot dogs, ambled some more, and returned to the Sky Club.

Emerson @ Detroit's airport

Emerson fell asleep around 9pm. We transferred her to her stroller and made our way to the gate. I carried her aboard the plane, positioned her in the Economy Comfort seat next to me, fastened her seatbelt, and watched her sleep peacefully as we flew off into the darkness…
Next stop: London.

Today’s box score: +1 state (Michigan)

On our way…

We’re on the plane for Detroit. Long layover then off to London to start the summer 2012 trip to Europe!

20120616-114121.jpg

Well, I’m home recovering from Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease (HFMD) this weekend. HFMD is a ‘toddler ailment’ that Libby and I managed to contract last weekend from Emerson. Libby bounced back by mid-week. And, though I’m now feeling fine, I look like something the villagers would throw stones at were I to venture out in public. The upside? Free time to arrange travel photos!

So, here you have it: photos from our March trip to the UAE and Oman…

Middle East Photos...

I’m starting this post at 40,000 feet above Virginia, 14 hours into our 15 hour flight home.

What’s left to be said? I can’t say this was our ‘best’ trip ever (that place is still held by the 3+ weeks we spent in Europe in 2008). I can’t say that it was the ‘most relaxing’ vacation or the ‘most beautiful’ place we’ve ever visited. So, what can I say?

The trip–aside from the cruise itself, which was basically ‘just another (good) cruise’–greatly exceeded our expectations. Admittedly, we (intentionally) went without a lot of preconceptions or anticipations. We mostly went because we could… because it was different… because it was there. But, we found our experiences in the UAE and Oman to be delightful, from the small (so, this is how a car wash works here) to the sublime (I see why they call this a ‘Grand Mosque’).

We enjoyed getting mistaken for British or German(!) visitors (Americans were few and far in between). We loved our interactions with locals; it was both enlightening and satisfying. Indeed, of all of the trips we’ve taken, this was probably the purest ‘experience’ on a personal level… by that I mean to say, it was a real growth experience.

Let’s be totally honest: before this trip I would have never imagined that some guy walking through an airport in a dishdasha and turban might be a country music fan or hold the Ford Mustang to be his favorite car. It simply would have never occurred to me. Intellectually, I knew that all people were/are unique individuals and most are fundamentally decent. But, I understand that a lot more viscerally now…. that’s pretty awesome.

And, while there are customs and practices that I still find foreign, I think I have an enhanced understanding of those differences and have a greater ability to see ‘both sides’ of the proverbial coin. I’ll have to spend some more time pondering all that I’ve seen and learned. Most importantly, this experience underscores for me that there’s more to learn and that it’s a worthwhile topic of further exploration. My interest in the region and its people is clearly raised…

Finally, we’ve already agreed that we want to go back to the UAE and Oman in the future. In part, it’s just a cool place to visit and a logical stop on a global hop around the world. We’re also interested in reading firsthand the next chapters in these countries’ stories.

Having talked with Libby at length about this trip, I think she shares similar sentiments. It was surprisingly good. Enjoyable and enlightening.

After landing in Atlanta this morning, I checked my email to find a note from Yusef. That was a nice exclamation point to put on the end of this trip. I’m actually hopeful that we’ll meet again some day… either here in the USA or back in his homeland.

We’re now back home and returning to ‘normal’ life.

Until our next adventure…

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