Tag 1 (2014) - With Etihad to Abu Dhabi

21.10.2014

DAY 1: Frankfurt - Abu Dhabi

Autumn holidays: we want to soak up some sun and jet off (unfortunately only) for 1 week to Abu Dhabi and Dubai - among other things, a family visit, so it was the perfect time during the autumn holidays.

We fly from Frankfurt to Abu Dhabi in the afternoon.
Our Etihad plane is 'still on time'.

And we are sooooo lucky to fly with Etihad....!!!!
Because we remember: Lufthansa strike...!!!
Go for Etihad....

Nearly everything cancelled.....really bad! Thanks Lufthansa - and during the autumn holidays!
But well, we are not flying with Lufthansa....
Our Etihad is ready for boarding.
Great legroom in the 'economy class' - comparable to the new Comfort Class of Condor (maybe even more space), the inflight entertainment is awesome (I don't know how many top current movies were offered, I watched 'movies' for a full 6 hours, plus a 3-course meal. Oh yes, that's how you can fly!

We land in Abu Dhabi around 8 p.m. in the evening, punctual.
The immigration works relatively quickly - no comparison to the US - and we quickly found our car rental station.
Unfortunately, my husband realizes shortly before boarding that he had drunk two beers on the plane...
Oops... in Abu Dhabi there is 'ZERO' tolerance for alcohol while driving. Damn, now I have to drive...

Normally no problem, but the first time with 'automatic' (well, the camper in the US also had an automatic transmission, but it was completely different!) and then in a foreign country, in the dark....

Well, I quickly got over the first panic.
We rented a midsize Chevy - car rental here is really cheap. However, our midsize Chevy is completely dwarfed on the road - wow, everyone here drives huge SUVs....

The pick-up of the family works great after some initial difficulties (of course, I immediately get lost behind the parking garage exit) and so we first go to the local supermarket for shopping, always following the cousin's car.

We are amazed at how 'European' everything is here. There is practically everything that we also have at home - except for alcohol, of course. You can't buy it in the supermarket. Similar to some US states, where you have to go to special liquor stores (we had that in Wyoming) to get beer & co.
After dinner together, we fall into our beds. The 2-hour time difference and the heat (still +35 degrees at 10 p.m.) are taking their toll on us. Fortunately, the air conditioning in the house works reliably.

Tomorrow morning we want to continue to Dubai. There we will treat ourselves to a hotel for 2 days before returning to Abu Dhabi.