Index
Day 1 - LAX-DXB
Day 2 - DXB-KWI
Day 3 - Kuwait
Day 4 - Kuwait
Day 5 - KWI-BAH
Day 6 - Bahrain
Day 7 - Bahrain
Day 8 - BAH-DXB
Day 9 - Return
Middle East
Second breakfast here and the limitations of the meu were becoming apparent; the hashbronws looked just like the Sodexo-supplied ones I'd seen before. Spent the day working, then ventured out into the central part of the city after sunset. Slice Doner was a local hole-in-the-wall lacking in much character or charm near Safar Square, but it had reasonable portions and it was nice to get out of the hotel.
Safar Square felt very modern, and the communications tower in the background only contributed to the slightly cliche Jetsons-era feel. Another two minutes' walk to Al Mubarakiya and the first truly lively experience in Kuwait, as the market stretched for several busy blocks in all directions. t'was the first area that really felt lived in by the locals, despite its very well-kept storefronts and streets.
Busy as things were with locals, wandering a few more blocks outside of Al Mubarakiya toward the waterfront was ultimately less endearing. Things became closed buildings and less pedestrian-friendly streets with a few more blocks, and a low-slung palace blocked access to most of the shore. A pedestrian overpass was locked as well, and that unexpectedly ended much of the planned exploration for the night.