What's that to the west of Portugal?

While complaining about a little sandstorm here in Dubai, news from home is quite the opposite. I know we were having an unsusally heavy rainy season with almost constant rain for the past two months. Quite unusual. But word from home was that there was rumor of another typhoon hitting the Algarve. We had what is called a bouncing typhoon in December that briefly touched land in three areas of the Algarve. Friends of ours lost all their large trees, some 60 feet tall.

I took a look at the weather satellite photo today and have to agree that there is a good chance that Portugal will wash away into the ocean in the next few days and there will be new coastline property to develop in Spain soon. I hope my return next week will bring some of the sunshine here back to Portugal.

Before Sandstorm

I guess I’ll have to get used to these. What looks like a very smoggy day in Los Angeles is in reality one of the many sandstorms that come through this area when the wind kicks up. It’s not the car burying, run-for-cover kind of events that I always though of when picturing a sandstorm.

It’s more like wind with texture. Everything gets covered with an almost invisible layer of fine dust that is gritty to touch. I am told that these can get much worse to the point you can not see across the street. I’d hate to be the street cleaner after one of those. In a country that values clean shiny cars, and buildings, there has to be a great financial opportunity for a business where you can really clean up.

During Sandstorm

Dubai Metro Train

I went local today and took the Dubai metro. What an Experience! I have never seen a cleaner and more organized public transportation system in my life.  There was absolutely no graffiti to be seen, anywhere. The seats were made of cloth and spotless. Normally on a metro train, everything is made of plastic so at the end of the day, everything can be hosed down or jet washed, sort of like McDonalds furniture. You know, just uncomfortable enough so you leave as soon as you inhale your Quarter Pounder with cheese.

All cars were air conditioned and they really turned these things up. It was actually almost cold inside. There is even a car for women only and a first class car in the front. You pay extra for that but since the trains have no driver, the front car has a large window in the front that you can see everything through. I soon found out why these trains are so spotless. I took the train to the end of the line, where everyone has to get off and they turn the train around. Waiting as we all disembarked was a crew of cleaning personnel. They were all waiting with mop buckets, antiseptic spray and vacuum cleaners. It reminded of the crews that come on board an airplane after the flight. These trains get a complete wash down after every line run. The stations themselves are pristine with tiled floors and ornate decorations. There is a maintenance worker at every station constantly polishing the tile floors and wiping off any handprints or smudges from the walls as well.

Dubai Metro Station

Everyone is also well behaved on the trains. Men relinquish their seats willingly to any woman standing.

The only negative thing I have to add is that due to the economic crisis here, many of the stations listed on the metro map have not been completed and the trains do not stop at these incomplete stations. I was really looking forward to getting off at Internet City station, but I went right past to the Mall of the Emirates, which had several computer stores to keep me happy.

My hotel room in Dubai

I was served breakfast this morning by the captain of the yacht I am staying on in the Marina in Dubai, UAE. The yacht is owned by my future employer. Pictures to come later. Everything is clean, modern and neat without a hair out of place. Got up to 30 degrees today (90 F). Can’t beat that for February.

Captain Lawrence

Up Up and Away

My airline tickets arrived today.  My new employer is paying for me to fly to Dubai in order to take my licensing exam, which they also are paying for.  No, I am not flying first class, but I am not complaining. I am not used to all this attention. I leave in three nights which is hard to believe. I won’t miss all this rain and cold weather in Portugal. We have already burned through all the firewood for the season. I’ll be gone for approximately 10 days to take the examinations and check out the new job. I can’t wait!

My new desk at "work"

Here is where I am spending a productive 8 hours a day for one more week before flying 4 time zones away to Abu Dhabi.  It’s quiet and my brain retains more here than at home. The library even has a small cafe where I can tank up on caffeine all day if needed.

Silves Library

This is where I am spending all my waking hours for the next 8 days preparing for the examination that will get me my license in Abu Dhabi. I talked to a future co-worker from Argentina who passed the examination last year. I’m glad I did as it turns out, I am studying too many things that are not going to be on the exam. Apparently, the exam is not as difficult as the one I took 30 years ago in California.

The library is very modern with free WiFi and power points at every desk and table. I can hook up to the Intenet and research everything I need to study.  I found a great head and neck anatomy program that allows me to visualize the important structures in 3D. Never had this 30 years ago. OK, off to study now.

Retired Portuguese Men

It’s official. I am, as of Friday, retired from work in Portugal. Since I am officially a Portuguese citizen, I guess I could join the ranks of my new colleagues you see in the picture.  However, there is no time for that as I must study study study for the upcoming exam in Abu Dhabi.  Retirement here is a blessing in disguise as I can now devote all my time to pushing information back into my head that I haven’t used in 30 years.  Would you like to know which cranial nerve controls your upper eyelid?  I knew that yesterday but can’t think of it off hand at the moment. Guess I’ll go back to studying.