Dubai. Again.

I wish I could say I was one of those hearty souls who thrives in Winter, making the most of grey days, preparing meals with hearty root vegetables and warding off the bitter cold with grace.    In fact, I spend much of the season whining about the wind blowing through our poorly insulated windows, itching dry skin, and gaining the winter 15.  Perhaps this crap attitude is why we decided to spend the February ski break in Dubai, yet again.

Dubai is our adventure into the warmth, a re-charging of the batteries.  Mike and I get to thaw out, lounge by the pool, and enjoy happy hour, while our boy sets off to meet new friends and play beach soccer for a week.  We might as well just say goodbye at the entrance to the resort and meet him in the airport at week's end.  This year, he left with the names and email addresses of kids from all over Europe.  I listened to one conversation where he was invited to Paris to play......"and bring your parents along, too."  

We stayed at the luxurious Madinat Jumeirah Al Qasr, on the Persian Gulf, in the shadow of Burj al Arab.  The accommodation and service is exceptional.  My photo obsession meant more vacation pictures of the Burj than the family.

Dubai is Las Vegas-hold the sin, a melting pot, where east mingles with west, a city of obvious haves and hidden have nots, as well as a place that is still carefully and quickly constructing its identity.  Most importantly, it is a place where we can tell old man winter to "shove it", for a week, every February.