An unscheduled Trip to DUBAI......

OK, so we didn't exactly plan a trip to Dubai, but our friends at BAA & London Heathrow airport thought they would treat us to an extended stopover.

After leaving work early on the Thursday afternoon (a week before the wedding), we paid the extra money and took the fast train to Heathrow (note: we were going to Terminal 3, not the new Terminal 5) in order to catch our 8:30pm flight. After arriving at 5:30pm we did think it was a bit strange that there were thousands of people queueing outside the terminal. We initially thought it was just really busy, and joined into the respective queue. After about 2 hours without any movement in the queue we started to worry. After 4 hours it started to get beyond a joke. As various flights were moved to different terminals, and the later Emirates flight move to London Gatwick Airport, we were told to just wait. So wait we did.....

With the Heathrow curfew fast approaching they decided to try to get some passengers checked-in, but just as we made it to the front they decided to close check-in. Tears were ready and in the confusion we managed to get a seat on the plane. As it turns out the Transport Authority were sympathetic to our cause and let the plane take off after curfew (4hrs late). Sadly it meant that we missed the connection in Dubai and so Emirates paid for a day in Dubai.

More importantly, we missed the hen's and buck's parties that our friends had organised.

To make the most of our stopover we took an evening city tour which was still in temps of 35 degress.
Hmmmm. Claire: Take 1 part Pepsi, add turbulence. Result: wet and dirty clothes. Tip: a pashmina will make a great skirt!

The world's only 7 star resort.

Airconditioned bus stops!

This little guy popped up alot...
Dubai at night....