Hello my friends, near and far. Or should I actually rather say far and further?
My last 2 weekends have been sooo much fun.
2 weeks ago, my friend Manuela came for a 4-day-visit. It was wonderful having so much time together to catch up. We went to the most important sights like the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, the Souk at Central Market, the Corniche and Mina harbour. We had an exquisite Afternoon Tea at Emirates Palace and delicious dinners at Tarbouce @ Central Market Souk, at Prego's @ Beach Rotana and at Al Dhafra @ Mina. We went shopping at Souk @ Qarat Al Beri, Marina Mall and Abu Dhabi Mall. We had drinks on the 18th Floor Terrace of Hyatt Capital Gate and at the beach club of the Beach Rotana hotel. Good thing Abu Dhabi is so small and even the airport is usually only a 30 minute trip by car from central AD. On the other hand, there isn't really much more to discover in Abu Dhabi now, so for Manuela's next visit we will venture further out to Al Ain or Dubai or somewhere else in the UAE.
After all, there was so much laughter that weekend, I am sure we have gained another 2 years in life expectancy, and I appreciated sharing some of my impressions and experiences with someone who knows me so well and has the same cultural background. Manuela enjoyed her time here, promised to come back and she will spread the word for making the trip to AD. Mission accomplished. Here's to more visitors!
And last weekend I was back in London, Baby! The city where my heart still lives (only really my body, and possibly my mind, moved to Abu Dhabi).
After a delayed departure due to thick fog in Abu Dhabi I arrived at London's Heathrow at 7am Thursday morning and went straight to my friend Karen's house in Wimbledon. I hadn't seen her since the Royal Ballet School's Year End performance on the main stage last July and she was eager to quiz me about my Arabian life. Later for lunch I met with my former boss Ann and colleagues Terrie and Matt in the City and spent about 5 hours in the London office saying hello to old work-friends and colleagues. It was really funny being back and colleagues greeting me, then doing a double-take and greeting me again properly after realising that actually I am not a regular in the London office any more.
Then I made my way over to Covent Garden, my usual walk from the City past St. Paul's and Chancery Lane, enjoying the London buzz. At the Royal Opera House I met up with Karen again and some more Royal Ballet friends and tweeps. At the Royal Ballet in Rehearsal in the Clore studio we were treated to Christopher Carr rehearsing La Valse with Nathalie Harrison, Tara-Brigitte Bhavnani, Olivia Cowley, Kenta Kura and Nicol Edmonds, with Kate Shipway on the piano. Such a pleasure, Mr. Carr is quite a character, his rehearsals are intercepted with little anecdotes and although he seems to be a tough coach, I have the distinct feeling it's actually tough love and he in fact adores the dancers and simply wants them to excel themselves.
Friday noon I met my friends Carol and Roxana at the Hospital Club for the Now Is All There Is exhibition with photos of Royal Ballet dancers and we had lunch at the delectable Machiavelli restaurant. Go there for breakfast, lunch, coffee and cake or dinner, I have not been disappointed yet, by either food or service. Friday afternoon was spent with Carol chatting, falling in and out of shops (I may have made two or three purchases along the way... maybe including some shoes...). After a quick stop at the Delaunay Counter for some mouthwatering Sacher-Torte we went back to the Royal Opera House for the Royal Ballet's Onegin (Federico Bonelli, Laura Morera, Gary Avis, Yuhui Choe, Nehemiah Kish). Onegin is such a nice ballet, the costumes, music, choreo, it all works, Mr. Cranko created a true gem of a ballet back in 1965/67 and Londoners are very lucky with this ballet being in the Royal Ballet's repertoire (my impression is that the John Cranko Gesellschaft doesn't grant permission easily). It was a very enjoyable performance, though the highlight of my trip was yet to come.
Saturday started early with breakfast with Roxana at Machiavelli's at 9am (!!!), after that I was meeting David to catch up properly before the Onegin Matinée. So, here we go: the original reason for this London-trip, Marianela Nuñez's debut as Tatiana in Onegin, dancing with her husband Thiago Soares in the title-role. I might have mentioned in previous blog-posts how much I adore them, especially when they dance together. There is that special connection of complete trust and great love and dedication (at least that's what I perceive it as). Marianela portrayed Tatiana's journey from shy book-worm to love-struck teenager to sophisticated strong married woman as if she's danced this role many a times before, and Thiago's Onegin is also convincingly aloof and self-absorbed, realising all too late his mistake of rejecting Tatiana earlier in life. In the final, tragic and heartbreaking Pas de Deux, where Tatiana sends Onegin away despite her obviously still having feelings for him, Marianela and Thiago had me in tears. What an afternoon!
Again, a huge Thank You to my friends Virna and Liliana who generously gave me a ticket in the Orchestra Stalls, row F, with fantastic view of the stage close enough to see facial expressions without my binoculars yet far enough to see the whole stage (including feet) and no other patron's head blocking my view. Due to this superb upgrade my original Stalls Circle Standing ticket could be used by my friend Max. A bit like musical chairs. I am over the moon that I made the trip to witness this fabulous début and I will always cherish the memories of this special performance. Thank you Marianela and Thiago for your passion and awesome artistry!
After the show I had coffee with some friends at my beloved Pret a Manger, met with another group of friends at the Delaunay Counter (yet again some scrummy Sacher-Torte), managed to squeeze in dinner at Byron Burgers with Gilles before heading back out to Wimbledon to spend some time with Karen before getting up really early Sunday morning for my 9am flight back to Abu Dhabi.
But, my, how much fun did I have in these jam-packed 3 days in London. I love and miss my friends there. You know who you are! I'll be back in April! See you all there.
Until then, keep in touch via facebook, twitter, email and the odd Skype call. What would I do without all these social networking sites? Imagine still having to write snail-mail letters? With the incredibly slow and unreliable Emirates Post I'd be there in person before the letters get delivered.
Anyway, as much fun as the last 2 busy weekends were, I today enjoyed a very nice and quiet Friday with a pampering session of massage and mani/pedi and just pottering around the flat. Although, I do admit to being envious of all my friends back in London who had another chance of seeing the Royal Ballet with Onegin tonight, again with the marvellous Marianela Nuñez and Thiago Soares.
I don't think I could get away with more gushing and praising and positive comments about my past two brilliant weekend experiences without sounding like a demented lunatic, so I'll shut up now and simply enjoy my memories with a huge grin on my face. Thank you for listening.
My last 2 weekends have been sooo much fun.
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| Emirates Palace Afternoon Tea |
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| Manu in abaya and sheila at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque |
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| sun-set seen from Hyatt Capital Gate |
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| Wendy art installation on Corniche |
After all, there was so much laughter that weekend, I am sure we have gained another 2 years in life expectancy, and I appreciated sharing some of my impressions and experiences with someone who knows me so well and has the same cultural background. Manuela enjoyed her time here, promised to come back and she will spread the word for making the trip to AD. Mission accomplished. Here's to more visitors!
And last weekend I was back in London, Baby! The city where my heart still lives (only really my body, and possibly my mind, moved to Abu Dhabi).
After a delayed departure due to thick fog in Abu Dhabi I arrived at London's Heathrow at 7am Thursday morning and went straight to my friend Karen's house in Wimbledon. I hadn't seen her since the Royal Ballet School's Year End performance on the main stage last July and she was eager to quiz me about my Arabian life. Later for lunch I met with my former boss Ann and colleagues Terrie and Matt in the City and spent about 5 hours in the London office saying hello to old work-friends and colleagues. It was really funny being back and colleagues greeting me, then doing a double-take and greeting me again properly after realising that actually I am not a regular in the London office any more.
Then I made my way over to Covent Garden, my usual walk from the City past St. Paul's and Chancery Lane, enjoying the London buzz. At the Royal Opera House I met up with Karen again and some more Royal Ballet friends and tweeps. At the Royal Ballet in Rehearsal in the Clore studio we were treated to Christopher Carr rehearsing La Valse with Nathalie Harrison, Tara-Brigitte Bhavnani, Olivia Cowley, Kenta Kura and Nicol Edmonds, with Kate Shipway on the piano. Such a pleasure, Mr. Carr is quite a character, his rehearsals are intercepted with little anecdotes and although he seems to be a tough coach, I have the distinct feeling it's actually tough love and he in fact adores the dancers and simply wants them to excel themselves.
Friday noon I met my friends Carol and Roxana at the Hospital Club for the Now Is All There Is exhibition with photos of Royal Ballet dancers and we had lunch at the delectable Machiavelli restaurant. Go there for breakfast, lunch, coffee and cake or dinner, I have not been disappointed yet, by either food or service. Friday afternoon was spent with Carol chatting, falling in and out of shops (I may have made two or three purchases along the way... maybe including some shoes...). After a quick stop at the Delaunay Counter for some mouthwatering Sacher-Torte we went back to the Royal Opera House for the Royal Ballet's Onegin (Federico Bonelli, Laura Morera, Gary Avis, Yuhui Choe, Nehemiah Kish). Onegin is such a nice ballet, the costumes, music, choreo, it all works, Mr. Cranko created a true gem of a ballet back in 1965/67 and Londoners are very lucky with this ballet being in the Royal Ballet's repertoire (my impression is that the John Cranko Gesellschaft doesn't grant permission easily). It was a very enjoyable performance, though the highlight of my trip was yet to come.
Saturday started early with breakfast with Roxana at Machiavelli's at 9am (!!!), after that I was meeting David to catch up properly before the Onegin Matinée. So, here we go: the original reason for this London-trip, Marianela Nuñez's debut as Tatiana in Onegin, dancing with her husband Thiago Soares in the title-role. I might have mentioned in previous blog-posts how much I adore them, especially when they dance together. There is that special connection of complete trust and great love and dedication (at least that's what I perceive it as). Marianela portrayed Tatiana's journey from shy book-worm to love-struck teenager to sophisticated strong married woman as if she's danced this role many a times before, and Thiago's Onegin is also convincingly aloof and self-absorbed, realising all too late his mistake of rejecting Tatiana earlier in life. In the final, tragic and heartbreaking Pas de Deux, where Tatiana sends Onegin away despite her obviously still having feelings for him, Marianela and Thiago had me in tears. What an afternoon!
Again, a huge Thank You to my friends Virna and Liliana who generously gave me a ticket in the Orchestra Stalls, row F, with fantastic view of the stage close enough to see facial expressions without my binoculars yet far enough to see the whole stage (including feet) and no other patron's head blocking my view. Due to this superb upgrade my original Stalls Circle Standing ticket could be used by my friend Max. A bit like musical chairs. I am over the moon that I made the trip to witness this fabulous début and I will always cherish the memories of this special performance. Thank you Marianela and Thiago for your passion and awesome artistry!
After the show I had coffee with some friends at my beloved Pret a Manger, met with another group of friends at the Delaunay Counter (yet again some scrummy Sacher-Torte), managed to squeeze in dinner at Byron Burgers with Gilles before heading back out to Wimbledon to spend some time with Karen before getting up really early Sunday morning for my 9am flight back to Abu Dhabi.
But, my, how much fun did I have in these jam-packed 3 days in London. I love and miss my friends there. You know who you are! I'll be back in April! See you all there.
Until then, keep in touch via facebook, twitter, email and the odd Skype call. What would I do without all these social networking sites? Imagine still having to write snail-mail letters? With the incredibly slow and unreliable Emirates Post I'd be there in person before the letters get delivered.
Anyway, as much fun as the last 2 busy weekends were, I today enjoyed a very nice and quiet Friday with a pampering session of massage and mani/pedi and just pottering around the flat. Although, I do admit to being envious of all my friends back in London who had another chance of seeing the Royal Ballet with Onegin tonight, again with the marvellous Marianela Nuñez and Thiago Soares.
I don't think I could get away with more gushing and praising and positive comments about my past two brilliant weekend experiences without sounding like a demented lunatic, so I'll shut up now and simply enjoy my memories with a huge grin on my face. Thank you for listening.
