All That Glitters IS Gold Part One

Dubai, Dubai, Dubai… What a gorgeous city with so many beautiful secrets. If the glittering Gold Souks, abundant Spice Souks and countless knock off fashions at jaw dropping prices aren’t enough to win your heart, the raw, untamed beauty of her surrounding deserts will. Our ship came alongside after a particular trying 28-day patrol for our 10 day RAMP period and much needed R & R time. The main purpose of the port visit was to accomplish some much needed repairs and maintenance to various equipment… one of the big undertakings being to repaint the ship’s hull and superstructure as we have been sporting somewhat of a “racing stripe” along our water line for some time now. Not the most flattering of paint jobs, but it sure makes it easy to pick us out of a crowd. To the average crew member though, this was the opportunity to blow off some steam, curl up next to a hotel room phone without out time limits, celebrate New Years Eve in style, or purchase those major pieces of jewellery for loved ones. I was lucky enough to indulge in all of the above, with extras! I was duty the first night in and working the second, which in a positive mind set, gave me the opportunity to plan my first day off the ship according to all the information and tips the others brought back with them after their much appreciated scouting out of the city and sites. Day 3 was all mine to try to find a hotel and take in as much of Dubai as I could… and I was off at a running pace, cause according to all those who did actually return to the boat those first two days, there was plenty to experience and explore. I had to make the most of every possible moment. The first stop was the Gold Souk. A souk is basically a market or collection of stores that all deal in the same goods. The amount of gold simply hanging in the store windows was enough to make you think you had glaucoma… So much yellow gold that I’m sure even on a cloudy day, you would think the sun was out in her full radiance. It was in this market, that a dormant gene awoke deep within me. I can now say that I am my mother’s daughter. Gold and gems are like an unexplainable addiction – once you see, try on, or buy one, you’ve gotta have more! I had become a jewellery junkie – and I’m not ashamed! Even the Dutch in me, couldn’t deter me as everything I encountered was marked at incredibly low prices. After shopping around and several days of trips back and forth to the souk and hotel room phone calls with Kevin discussing purchases and credit limits (hee, hee) I left Dubai with gorgeous pieces. I fell in love with the stone Aquamarine and thus it’s appearance in white gold settings in my new ring, earrings and pendant. I also managed to get a custom pendant made with the initials KC in white and yellow gold intertwined. Kevin keeps insisting it is “so sweet that I want to wear his initials,” despite my insistence that it is for our first names… I may have given up on that battle, but I’m determined to win the war (wink). The poor kid puts up with a lot of teasing from me. For example, I kept threatening to buy myself a gorgeous diamond ring… and that he would still be responsible to buy THE ring, it would just have to be bigger and better than the one I buy. To which he whined, “But Corrina, it’s DUBAI!” “I know. You better start saving.” He takes it all in stride – definitely a keeper! Okay, it’s getting late here and I have to go on watch in a few hours again. I’m sorry there was such a dry spell there with my entries – I am back on the watches, so time is in very short supply, and although I hate to admit it, sleep will always win out. I didn’t mean to leave you all worrying about our safety (thank you Uncle Frank). I will try to get a few more pictures uploaded for you guys… even though that first one took a good 15 minutes to load (gaaawwwdd!). Miss you all and love you more. Will continue the rest of the telling of Dubai soon (I hope).