(^22) Ramah rest area – Al Ain - 60 km
The ride to Al Ain was straight into the wind, but there was nothing
one could do. I put my head down, adjusted the bicycle gears, and
soldiered on. Truly, nothing happened - even the service stations
weren’t equipped with shops selling snacks or drinks. Then, out of the
blue, a stranger stopped and gave me a small souvenir. I was
completely gobsmacked, and I wonder if I ever thanked him for his
kindness.
The oasis town of Al Ain rolled into view shortly beyond midday. My
early arrival left me enough time to investigate the nearby Al Ain
Oasis which sported a labyrinthine of cobbled streets. The entire area
was walled and fitted with an ancient underground irrigation system
dating back thousands of years. The nearly 150,000 date palms
within the walled area made it a relaxed and shady meander. Falafel
and samosas from the cafeteria, once again, made a quick meal.
Al Ain offered several places of interest and the city was a great place
to spend the following day. The Palace Museum was fascinating, and
so was the old fort. Al Jahili Fort was constructed in 1891 as a fort
and a summer residence for Sheikh Zayed the First. I believed it
customary in those days for Abu Dhabi leaders to escape the
summer's coastal humidity in favour of Al Ain's dryer climate. The
oasis, offering plenty of water, must have added to its popularity.
Carrefour supermarket was a great place to stock up. As the camel
market was right behind the shopping centre, the market was easy to
explore before returning to my wonderfully comfortable abode. For
the third night in a row, supper was falafel and more samosas before
turning in.
leana
(Leana)
#1