I GOT WHEELS!!!!

I finally have a car!!!!!!!!!!!!!! John recently rented me a Toyota Yaris for scooting around the city to house hunt and furniture hunt. I AM A FREE WOMAN!!!!!!!!!!

It feels so good to be driving around and not depending on taxis and others to take me around. Since we are staying here, (I know I have not really announced our retirement plans yet) I had two requests---a car and a trip home every three months to see my new grandbaby who is arriving in August.

I have been keeping the road HOT, HOT, HOT shopping for used furniture that I find on Dubizzle, a local advertising web site, and house hunting. We have to move from our house and furnish it. Our house and furniture have been provided the past two years. I have found some great bargains and am having so much fun with this.

We have some time before we move so I can be picky and choosy about what I buy.
Found these two funky orange chairs. They are so comfortable. Paid a big $163 for them!!!! John and Josh love these chairs. They put away the chairs we had in the TV room and living room and put these in their place. Already in use!This is a cool leather-look chair. I couldn't pass it up. $75

People live here very temporarily--often coming here for only a year or so and they buy all new furniture. Then, when they leave, they sell it all. I got a four poster king sized bed in Malaysian wood, dresser, mirror and two nightstands for $680. And a casual dining table with 5 chairs, a bench, and a full size buffet with glass doors and lights for $680. So, I have a bed to sleep on and a table to eat at....no sofa yet. Negotiating one now! Lots more stuff in the hopper.

Dubai Global Village

Last week I went with two carloads of women to Dubai to go to Global Village. This is an annual event that begins in November and goes until mid-February. It is a bazaar of sorts, but more like a county fair. Different countries are represented with big buildings full of vendors. It has an amusement park side also with the ferris wheel and a carnival-like atmosphere. Food from every country is represented as well. It was a fun evening filled with exploring the different wares from each country and grazing the food booths tasting the different foods. It is a good way to purchase authentic furnishings, lamps, dishes, clothing, knick-knacks,....you name it......from various parts of the world.

My first stop was in India where I purchased a shawl. I love the people of India. They are so friendly and loving (that is why I have a Sri-Lanken housemaid!)
This is a carnival type ride for children. It's really just chairs sitting on something that turns. Kind of funny looking.


Some of the vendors were quite interesting. Everyone loved the Pashmina Shawls. Wish I was ready to buy carpets. One vendor had a really nice selection of silk carpets from Kashmir and his prices were decent. Just not ready yet. I want to look for a while before I buy.










We went to the Middle Eastern countries of Lebanon, Syria, Morocco, & Turkey.
I found this guy most intriguing. He was selling a delicious fruit juice. I found out that this manner of serving drinks in the streets is quite common in Turkey. The juice sold for 10 dirhams which is about $3.00.There was a canal in the middle with "gondola" boats where you could ride from one location to the next. Reminded me a little of the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas!




Turkish lamps



Turkish Pottery Perfume Bottles Lamps


This is a tent made up like the Bedouin tents in the desert. People were eating and reclining in the tent.

The canal after dark.


Posing with African dancers at the Africa booth. This was a fun booth.

We found this darling little boy in the Syria booth. He was sooooo precious. His parents let us take photos of him.

The Thailand booth

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Spices in the Yemen booth. They sold honey and every kind of spice. We enjoyed dealing with the carpet vendor here also.


This was truly a great event and a fun way to explore other countries. Unfortunately, I did not have enough time to go to all the countries. I can't wait to go again next year!