Royal Jordanian/Qantas vs Etihad to Jordan

He he he.

See thats the kind of stuff that would have me running a mile before visiting Abu Dhabi if I were a potential tourist. There is absolutely nothing in that list which is in anyway peculiar to or particular to Abu Dhabi, and I would rather eat my own feet than spend a day snorting traffic fumes while gazing up at yet another concrete tower.

Back to Ruffgyders comments at #17. I agree with you that anyone expecting Damascus style souks etc deserves their disappointments, but I guess I'm coming from a perspective of knowing Abu Dhabi pretty well back in the mid 90s when you still spend a full day haggling in the old souk, and wandering through the old boatyards, and pavement life was infinitely more accessible than it is now. Basically, the government is ashamed of all the aspects of AUH which make it fascinating to people like you, and have done their best to eliminate / hide / disguise it. Which is what makes me think it would be hard for the average stopover candidate to find it.

Ooh. Just realised I wasnt very clear there. The first paragraph of my post #20 is referring to the link that Vicky posted in #19.

Yes, it was the "Also a simply stroll through the city will be amazing to the whole family" that did it for me. Fantastic use of English as well!!

And yes, AD is well and truly sanitised now. Nothing much of any 'character' (by which I mean old and/or shabby) remains. The removal of the Bateen boatyard was the final straw really.

#20 you're right. The key in what you say is "the government have done their best to eliminate it". Trouble is, governments are rubbish at that, the world over: "their best" is invariably crude and full of ways to circumvent it. They haven't succeeded in AUH either, which makes the hunt even more absorbing.

#22 - don't mistake character for age or shabbiness. Irbid, Homs, Giza, etc are old & shabby but, er, somewhat lacking in character (to be generous). Muharraq, Jeddah, Tripoli etc (like AUH) are old & characterful, but not especially shabby. And, to continue the theme, Sohar, Tartous, Liwa etc are shabby & characterful, but not that old (even if they stand on old foundations).

Fair enough ruff, but I'm sure you get what I'm on about with respect to AD - as soon as something gets a bit shabby (ie the old souk) they pull it down and replace it with yet another high rise - and there goes any individuality or character that the city once had.

But 'individuality and character' are lost only if you're expecting individuality and character to reside in old and/or shabby things. That's what I was trying to say: individuality and character are not the same as old stuff.

Building high-rises, and making sure everything is as new as possible, expresses the individuality and character of AD - that's what the city is all about. You could no more have a Jerusalem-style souk in AD than you could have Abu Dhabi-style high rises in the Old City of Jerusalem. But that fact is only disappointing if you expect (or want) AD to be like Jerusalem. It isn't - it's like AD.

It's only about expectations. I thought AD was full of character and quite unique. I didn't miss old stuff.

Ruff I think we're going round in circles here a bit as I basically agree with you that old doesn't necessarily equal characterful. However, high rises and everything being sparkling is what AD is all about now, yes, but personally I think it's a shame when something shabby, but integral, IMO to the character of the city is pulled down just to make way for yet another sparkling high rise that looks pretty much the same as all the others. Then something is lost that will never be replaced. It's not a Jerusalem-style souk that I miss, it's the AD souk! You're saying it's about expectations, but what about for those of us who have memories of these old, shabby things and are not that impressed by the uniformity we have now?!

Fair enough! I'd dispute the uniformity thing, but never mind. At least we can agree that we both like the place. Pleased to make your acquaintance.

Well, comparative uniformity!
Anyway, I'm pleased to have an ally to gang up with me against Genghis when she starts slagging the place off!!

Careful Vicky - I'll have the moderators on to you.....