Ducks are taking some time off for unexpected hospital visit. Be back soon- Stay tuned.
Watching for room service. Where’s the bread?
E.R. Duck
National Grammar Day and National Pound Cake Day 2017
Today, March 4, is National Grammar Day. When did this happen? Martha Brockenbrough, founder of the Society for the Promotion of Good Grammar, designated National Grammar Day in 2008. The English language has over one million words. Language is something to celebrate. Some people might suggest that grammar is a set of rules for language, but really it is a system for understanding a language; how the words are structured. Understanding the system and the structure helps us to better understand the language and can help us to learn new languages. There are some hard and fast rules in grammar, though. So, let’s use good grammar today. This information is from http://www.NationalDayCalendar.com
For my friends that really don’t care about grammar, we have more news. Today is also National Pound Cake Day. So enjoy a great snack of pound cake today. I hope mom gets me some tasty pound cake!
Pound Cake. Yum
More Abu Dhabi and a Dhow Dinner Cruise with Zeb and Chanel.
Riding through Abu Dhabi, humans, duck and bear, are staring, wide eyed at all the development and the many palaces we pass. Gazing toward the water, we spotted some planes flying low, then a few helicopters over head. We do not know the occasion, but we enjoyed the colors left by the airplanes.
Celebrating something
A celebration of some kind? The palm trees along the streets are so pretty, and tropical.
Love palm trees in front of a royal palace
Abu Dhabi has many mosques. Most have speakers in a minaret, to call the worshippers to prayer.
Minaret of mosque with speakers
Several times each day, we hear this call. Our ears prefer some voices over others, but there is always the call. Riding along the coast, we approach the beach area of Corniche. Here again, we marvel at the innovative design of some new buildings.
Modern architecture
Looking across the water, we enjoyed the view.
Emirates Palace Hotel across water
This is Emirates Palace, an exclusive hotel. Admission is granted only with a hotel reservation, or a reservation at one of the restaurants. This view of modern architecture and Emirates Palace my look familiar to many of you.
Old and new on the Persian Gulf
We were told that some of the recent movie, Fast and Furious 7, was filmed here. Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, is modern while retaining some older structures. Abu Dhabi’s oil reserves are expected to last many more years, but this former desert community is now a world business center and tourist destination. We enjoyed dinner on a Dhow Cruise. Our boat looked festive with all the lights.
Our boat for evening cruise and dinner
Our buffet dinner, delicious by the way, was served here. The fish dish was my favorite.
Dinner served here
After dinner mom and several humans enjoyed green tea with fresh mint leaves. A nice change to our regular green tea. Moving to the upper deck, I Zeb the Duck and Chanel the Bear, enjoyed the evening air and a wonderful view of Abu Dhabi.
Enjoying the evening upstairs after dinner
The reflections of city lights on the water is a favorite sight for me.
Abu Dhabi skyline
We all marveled at and admired Abu Dhabi from our Dhow Dinner Cruise.
Abu Dhabi skyscrapers
Such a pleasant evening in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Abu Dhabi Mall and Fish Market with Zeb and Chanel
The humans are hungry again! Humans do like eat. Tariq, our guide, says we will go to the mall and everybody can choose their preferred restaurant. What is this?
Ferris wheel
I love ferris wheels, but mom says we do not have enough time. We enter Marina Mall in Abu Dhabi.
Marina Mall in Abu Dhabi
This fountain is a little different than ours at home. The water comes from above, much like rain.
Fountain inside Marina Mall
Chanel the Bear and I, Zeb the Duck, did not get very wet. Too bad, because ducks love water. And this…
Dinosaur
A dinosaur in the mall to promote another exhibit. Very interesting. Having lunch, the reason for this stop, leads us to this Lebanese restaurant.
Villa Beirut for lunch
We order humus with chick peas. The humus, similar to paste, lines the bowl. Accompanied by a bowl of assorted olives, all very tasty, but not overwhelming our taste buds.
Our lunch
The aroma of fresh, warm bread teases our senses. We eat the bread and then they brought another basket. Heavenly! But, don’t forget, we are from the United States so we ordered French Fries from this Lebanese restaurants. Tasting perfect, they did not last long. And the Diet Cokes quenched our thirst. We also drank water with lemon. A perfect light lunch for humans, duck and bear. Wandering through the mall, we saw this sign.
Common sign
Rather common here, but not usual in our malls at home. Leaving the mall, the column caught our attention.
Column in Abu Dhabi
A tribute to the royal family, we think. Next stop is the fish market of Abu Dhabi.
Fish Market of Abu Dhabi
I wonder if this is like the fish market I visited last July in Maputo, Mozambique. Let’s go inside to see. Yes, it is. I love seeing the different kinds of fish. This man is showing me the fish.
fish market
Another seller and I am with a human and more fish.
Fish market with my new friend
Well, what is this he is bringing near me?
fish market. eel??
I believe it is an eel. This man likes me, too. He thinks I might be hungry.
Fish market for a snack
Now, I, Zeb the Duck, am sampling a small fish. Very nice snack for me. Mom takes me to this display.
fish market
Some different kinds of fish here. I like the fish market, and the sellers are always so nice to me. My friend, Chanel the Bear, is here also, but she is made of cloth. Mom can put me in a tub of soapy water and wash me. If Chanel sat with the fish, she would smell like fish for the entire trip. Maybe not a good idea, Chanel. We are happy you watched from your carrying bag.
National Public Sleeping Day
This is really weird! We, the Colorado Traveling Ducks, have never heard of this. Today humans are allowed, and encouraged, to sleep in public places? The website http://www.NationalDayCalendar.com says that today, February 28, is a day for anyone and everyone to take a nap on a blanket at the beach, at the park, in the movie theater, on a bus, train, or subway or any other public place that may work for you. However, it does warn that it might not be a good idea to take that nap at your desk during work. Mom said we probably will not see many, if any, people taking naps in public. She doesn’t think many people know about this day. Although, a nap on a sunny beach does sound pretty nice.
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi, UAE, with Zeb the Duck
We are approaching a huge white building.
Front of Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. Photo from Wikipedia.
The main entrance to Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is very impressive. This photo came from Wikipedia. This, the largest mosque in the United Arab Emirates, is also the eighth largest in the world. Let’s go inside.
Let’s go in
This massive courtyard covers 17,400 square meters. We love this view with the minarets.
Courtyard
Security is tight here. There are several security men to prevent tourists from walking in the courtyard. The floor has colored marble and floral decorations that are twisted and coiled in stunning patterns.
Courtyard
Around the courtyard, we admired the more than one thousand columns.
Columns
Each column was inspired by the palm tree, and decorated with marble and inlaid with floral designs and semi precious stones from around the world. Construction for this mosque began in 1996 and was completed in 2007. Before entering the main prayer hall, shoes must be removed and we passed through this smaller room. The clock here shows the prayer times for the day.
Prayer times for today
We admired one of the seven chandeliers in the mosque.
Chandelier hanging from dome
The seven chandeliers inside the mosque hang from some of the Grand Mosque’s largest domes. There are 82 domes, the largest with a diameter of 326 meters. Entering the main prayer hall, the chandeliers catch your attention.
Huge chandelier
Here is the largest chandelier in the world, weighing about 12 tonnes. Made of gilded brass, stainless steel and glass panels, the glass panels are studded with Swarovski crystals. It is beautiful. Next we see the Mihrab, the place in a mosque where the Imam leads worshippers in prayer. This always faces the direction of Mecca.
For Imam
This one is gold color and covered with gold glass mosaics. The Minbar, or pulpit, seen here, is the place the Imam stands to address the worshippers during Friday prayers. On the wall, in traditional Kufic calligraphy, are the 99 attributes of Allah. Covering the floor of the main prayer hall we admired the world’s largest hand knotted carpet.
Largest hand knotted carpet
This carpet was 2 year project. Designed by a third generation carpet maker, Dr. Ali Khaliqi, the hand crafted carpet required 1,200 artisans to complete. In the main prayer hall there are 96 columns clad with marble and inlaid with mother of pearl. Leaving the main prayer hall, we put our shoes on and wandered the halls around the courtyard. We loved the detail on the columns throughout the mosque.
Great details
You may have missed seeing me, Zeb the Duck and Chanel the Bear in these photos. We were there, but we stayed in our traveling bags. In many holy places, we are not allowed to sit on things. But, as you can see, mom did let me sit here, outside the mosque for one photo.
I, Zeb the Duck, was here. So was Chanel the Bear.
And one last photo of Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi.
Beautiful
This is one of a few mosques where non Muslims are allowed inside. We thoroughly enjoyed seeing this beautiful building.
Happy Chocolate Covered Nut Day from the Colorado Traveling Ducks
Chocolate covered nuts! We love chocolate covered nuts. Especially with a little caramel. First people ate chocolate covered peanuts. They are really good. We love them and we loved what we call Turtles. Pecans, with caramel and then covered in chocolate. And, of course, macadamia nuts are also delicious prepared this way. And chocolate covered almonds are always a treat. OK mom.
These look delicious!
Let’s eat some chocolate covered nuts today.
Zeb the Duck Flies to New Places
We left Denver International Airport, changed planes in Los Angeles International Airport, and now learning about our new plane.
What???
I, Zeb the Duck, can only read part of this sign. Now a picture of our airplane appears.
Over 15 hours??
Mom, does that say 15 hours and 15 minutes to our destination?? This is a long flight! But the seats were big enough. The plane was not full. I am seeing the mountain peaks of California.
California’s mountains
And so much food.
That’s a lot of food. And tasty chicken.
We received three meals and many beverages. All delicious. A long, but comfortable flight, and we were in the economy class seats. This was nice. Out the plane window, I see the lights of Dubai.
Approaching Dubai
This is a huge airport. We are in the United Arab Emirates, and this country was created December 2, 1971. Everything is new and very big. So much shopping here, but no time now.
Always places to shop
We must clear customs and immigration, get our luggage and meet our tour guide. We are touring with SmarTours of New York. We meet Tariq, our guide, get on the bus and head for Abu Dhabi. From the bus we see this mosque, with green lights.
Mosque at night
Sheikh Zayed Road leads us from Dubai to Abu Dhabi.
Sheikh Zayed Road between Dubai and Abu Dhabi
About 2 hours driving through the desert will bring us to Abu Dhabi. This highway is huge. We see 5-6 lanes in each direction. I don’t see much traffic now, but they say sometimes there are many vehicles. We will stay in Abu Dhabi three nights, at the Southern Sun Hotel.
Southern Sun. Our home for 3 nights
The lights move on the front of our hotel. We have a nice, bright lobby.
Lobby of Southern Sun. Zeb the Duck and Chanel the Bear
And you can now see who is here with us! Chanel the Bear, my good friend, and her mom are in Abu Dhabi. We will have so much fun traveling together. I, Zeb the Duck, wanted to find the swimming pool. It is an outdoor pool on the top floor of the Southern Sun.
Southern Sun pool
A little chilly now, so I won’t stay in here long. Looking through the glass wall, it is a long way down.
From top of Southern Sun Hotel
Chanel and I, Zeb, take our moms for a walk around our neighborhood. We saw many new things, several small shops and restaurants. Even a money exchange office to change US dollars into United Arab Emirates dirhams. We receive about 3.65 dirhams for each US dollar. Carefully sitting on the railing, we wanted to show you how wide the highways are in Abu Dhabi.
Wide highways through Abu Dhabi
We love wide streets. Walking on side streets, we are happy that most countries in the world use the same type of stop sign.
Stop sign
Isn’t this fun to see? It is exciting to see new things. Chanel and I, Zeb, want to show you so many things about our trip to the United Arab Emirates. We hope you keep reading.
Breckenridge Snow Sculptures with Zeb and Soapy Smith Duck
400 tons of snow?? Really? And we are going to see it? Back to Breckenridge, Colorado we happily view these entries for the 27th annual International Snow Sculpture Championships.
Breckenridge, Colorado
We love this event. First place was awarded to Team China for Mermaid.
Team China
These mermaids look like they are underwater. Second place belongs to Team Sweden.
Team Sweden
Titled: 4 (Ever) Wheels Reflection. Team Sweden wrote “This sculpture is a reflection of the car as a cultural tool and an extension of our bodies. The car constitutes the duality of freedom and dependency.” OK, so how did all this snow get here? Breckenridge is a ski resort and they made the snow. The City of Breckenridge hauled snow, in dump trucks, to the sculpturing area. The snow, dumped into forms, is packed by humans jumping on it. Each block of snow is 10’x10’x12′. Each of the 16 blocks weighs 50,000 pounds. That is 400 tons of snow! Third place went to Team Mongolia for We are One Family.
Team Mongolia
This seems to be the front of the sculpture. But, the back and sides were a bit different, and Zeb and Soapy want you to see this view also.
Team Mongolia
Also awarded is People’s Choice award. Spectators vote by placing one dollar bills in the voting boxes in the Thaw Lounge. This year was the first time there was a tie vote. And, the two winners were Team Mongolia for We are One Family (also third place winner), and another Team Mongolia for Before It’s Too Late Protect Earth From Today!
Team Mongolia
Team Mongolia’s sign says “This lizard on a human palm represents the intertwindedness of humans with nature.” This was our favorite sculpture this year also. We really liked all 16 of these entries. Team Iceland’s, Ancestry In Ice was great.
Team Iceland
The Viking ship was perhaps the greatest technical and artistic achievement of its time, they say. Team Italy names this STOP!
Team Italy
They believe our worst enemies are within ourselves: They are our own fears. Team Breckenridge, the host city, entered Life Saver.
Team Breckenridge
This is a tribute to the National Ski Patrol, established in 1938. The National Ski Patrol provides eduction and emergency care and safety eduction. They also are the main Search and Rescue group for the mountains. We thank the over 28,000 members, serving over 650 patrols. But not all snow was entered in the competition. This one is for fun.
Just for fun
At first, kids could play and climb here, but then the weather got warmer, a little thawing, more freezing, and now it is covered with a layer of ice. Still climb inside, but outside is too slippery now. This year there is a new sponsor.
Sponsored by Toyota
Toyota sponsored this 27th International Snow Sculpture Championships. For the competition, no power tools are allowed, only small hand tools. The sculpting began Tuesday at noon and the ended Saturday at 9:00 a.m. Then the judging begins. Many teams work through the nights to finish these masterpieces. But, remember this is a mountain town, a resort town, a ski area, and a great place to visit. On main street we like this Colorado Store.
Breckenridge Main Street
And we especially love the benches made of old skis. Breckenridge received a lot of snow the week before this competition.
Snow
Much of it is still here, in town and thankfully on the mountains. Looks like it was windy also.
Crazy icicles
The icicles look like they were blown as they froze. We love Breckenridge. They have many festivals during the year, but it is fun even without festivals, any time of the year. We hope you visit soon.
Happy President’s Day 2017
Today, February 20, 2017 is President’s Day in the United States. This is a federal holiday so many schools will be closed. The post office also closes, so no mail will be delivered today. Banks also close as do all federal offices. On Mt Rushmore in South Dakota, the heads of four presidents are carved.
Mount Rushmore honors our democracy
Here we honor former US Presidents, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln. In 1885 a holiday was declared on February 22, to celebrate the birthday of George Washington, our first president. In 1971, the holiday was changed to the 3rd Monday in February and now honors all US Presidents. We wish you a very happy holiday today.
Colorado Traveling Ducks 