Postcards from Oman and Abu Dhabi

Well, it has been a while since we have been on a trip to post about.  With the girls in the U.S. going to school we are unable to take many trips.  Madeline's spring break didn't coincide with Alison and Janie's spring break so she came to the Middle East solo.  Because Saudi Arabia is such a rough airport to fly into especially if you are a fifteen year old girl, we decided it would be best for us to fly in with her.  If something is wrong with your visa...or even if the visa is correct but someone made a data entry error in to the computer system...they will put you on a plane and send you home.  John and I haven't left Saudi since January so we decided we would make it a mini vacation.  I know it doesn't seem like a long time, but when you live in Jubail, Saudi Arabia and you are here for weeks on end with no breaks it starts to wear on your psyche.

A good friend of ours in on temporary assignment in Abu Dhabi so we decided it would be the perfect time to go and visit her and maybe add a quick stop in Oman.  Unfortunately our friend, Toni, was going to be in Nepal at the same time so we were going to miss her, but she offered her apartment to us.  John and I flew in to Oman a day early to make sure that the Omani visa process wasn't difficult before Madeline flew in to the airport.

We spent four days in Oman and about four days in Abu Dhabi.  We had so much fun with Madeline. Oman is such a beautiful country...nothing like Saudi.  It has mountains, and coastline, and Omanis that actually work. It is laid back and accommodating and friendly.   We didn't have nearly enough time to explore so we will definitely be going back.

We flew from Oman to Abu Dhabi a few days after Maddie got there.  We thought Abu Dhabi would be just like Dubai, but it is a lot different.  It's got tons of malls, tons of culture, a great coastline, and Ferrari World.  Toni's apartment was in the BEST hotel.  We loved it.  It had everything...pub, spa, Italian restaurant, pool, Sushi, etc.  We loved loved it.  We are just sorry that Toni wasn't in town for us to hang out with her!

After a week out of Saudi all three of us flew back in to the country for Madeline to spend her last week of spring break at the compound....in the thriving city of Jubail.  She spent nearly every day going up to the school and hanging out with all of her friends and teachers.  She had to much fun!  She is the only kid that I know that wants to spend a week of her spring break at school.  It was just like old times...I had to get up early and make her breakfast and lunch...take her to school...make dinner. Kids were in and out of the house all hours of the day and night.  I loved it!  I had a purpose for a week...hehe.

Maddie is back at school.  We have a countdown of 7 weeks until we get to go pick her up in NYC for summer break!  I cannot wait.  We plan on taking a road trip from NYC to D.C. to visit the Buntings (YAY!) to Atlanta to New Orleans and home to my other two loves in College Station!  It should be a blast!  So excited!!!!