1st day in Abu Dhabi and so much to do! We started by visiting the race track where they will be having the final Formula 1 race of the season in just another 2 weeks and saw the spectacular Viceroy Hotel as well that is right on the track. Then off to Ferrari World!
After checking out the new LaFerrari which just arrived today (Sam couldn't believe it and was so excited to see it- only 400 made) we headed to the fastest roller coaster in the world Formula Rossa! Front seat my retainer almost flew out of mouth! It was amazing. In something like 3 seconds you go from 0 to 150 mph. It was awesome- a word I used a lot today! We then went and got in line to register for their new electric go kart racing. Good thing we did. There were hardly anyone there that day but there was still an hour wait, so we got our ticket and headed over to a simulator ride. I should know simulators make me sick! But Sam and Pawaan - our friend that had worked in Grand Cayman when we went there for many years who joined us today at the park, enjoyed it. Then back to the go karts. Since it was the first day, there were some delays but once we were driving against 14 other people it was exciting- fast and slick. The floor is slick and just tap on your brakes and your swirl around the corners. Sam and I were game on and had a blast racing around the track. Sam in the whole line up finished 3rd- he was psyched!
We explored the rest of the "largest indoor amusement park in the world" and had a tasty lunch at the Italian restaurant which is the same restaurant across the street from the Ferrari factory in Italy. We did the fastest roller coaster again - again blew my hair into a cobweb and then off to Yas Water Park which was right across the road. There we got a locker and changed into our suit, rented a towel and ran from ride to ride to fit it all in before closing in 2 hours. We rode 9 rides and Sam rode 13! It was an awesome park and finished with the surf coaster where Sam got really good at surfing the wave. It was great since there was hardly anyone there. Honestly at the end I was almost sick- too much motion in one day! But we had a blast.
Back at the hotel we both got warmed up, the weather was perfect like 73 degrees, but when wet we were chilled. We changed and went into the old part of town. By old I mean it is max 20 years old. Went to a suk area which was built just a few years ago that had a lot of little shops trying to simulate an indoor, since it can get 130 degrees here, shopping area. Well, interesting to see how they tried but definitely not a suk- since it was missing the hustlers, the smells, the craziness of it all, hundreds of people, the shops that go up and down and around... which really is what makes suks interesting. We caught a taxi out of downtown and ate at a new Japanese BBQ restaurant that had been recommended. It was a fun night there. The chefs sit right above you like a sushi bar, but they cook the whole meal right there and then BBQ it at their feet. It was delicious and we had a fun time visiting with the chefs and all the yelling of Japanese that goes back and forth was really an entertaining time.
We had gone hard for 16 hours and were ready for sleep. Tomorrow we will fit in the Palace and the incredible mosque, 3rd largest in the world, right across from our hotel and then off to the desert.
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