Lisbon times.

I have been working in Lisbon for a month and a half.

Great place and really cheap for food and drink.

Back on the subject of food prices as it fascinates me ;-) (like in previous posts):

Portugal

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Angel hair pasta 500g = EUR 0.95 or GBP 0.87

Pesto = EUR 1.24 or GBP 1.14

Coke 6 pack = EUR 2.49 or GBP 2.29

USA

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Angel hair pasta 500g = USD 3.59 or GBP 2.48

Pesto = USD 5.69 or GBP 3.92

Bacon 12 slices = USD 5.09 or GBP 3.51

Coke 6 pack = USD 2.45 or GBP 1.69

Dubai

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Bacon 8 slices = AED 32.50 or GBP 6.50

Coke 6 pack = AED 5.25 or GBP 1.05

G20 protests stop my beer flowing.

So after getting back in the morning I go out for a few pints around Liverpool Street not knowing 4 protest marches were coming into the area.

After a couple of pints the pub shuts on police orders! Damn... I had to relocate out of the area to get a drink served at only 7pm.

Right now I am commuting to work for 1.5 hours and it brings back all the memories of why I need to leave London and get a beach life full time.

London - journey's end

Iris scanned entry to the UK is so easy. I recommend it.

No queues at all where as the Immigration queue for UK/Europe passports was long.

Now for the long haul across London and home.

That was Miami South Beach.

I couldn't post anything over the last few days because my laptop broke, I left my Blackberry up in Fort Lauderdale and of course it was party party party!

Now at MIA airport waiting for the night flight home.

South Beach was always up in the high 70's and the sun was strong. As world beaches go the sand isn't the best on South Beach, where you need to go is to the pool bars in the posh hotels and party there. Once I get back to the UK I will upload some images to Flickr.

I stayed in a really nice apartment on Washington and 18th, the top end of South Beach. I had a dog to walk and that is the trick to getting the pretty girls to stop and chat to you rather than look through you!

Beach life is great

This is a commercial for the wonders of a Blackberry and emailing content straight to a blog as it happens, even if nothing is happening!

Always early to South Beach

I always like to arrive prepared and be on the front line before the battle starts.

So midnight we hit the Gansevoort South http://www.gansevoortsouth.com/ roof bar.

We were the last to leave as they shut at 3am... then onto the RokBar http://www.rokbarmiami.com/ until way too late for someone of my age.

Welcome to Miami South Beach, no rest for the wicked ;-)

Shopping in Publix supermarket

Seeing as I did it for Dubai earlier in the blog and food prices are interesting to me at least!
(Assume the exchange rate to the pound is 1.45).

Angel Hair pasta 500g USD 3.59 or GBP 2.48
Pesto 280g USD 5.69 or GBP 3.92

12 slices bacon USD 5.09 or GBP 3.51

Basmati rice 1kg USD 5.69 or GBP 3.92
Parmesan 0.5lb wedge USD 15.00 or GBP 10.34

New York strip steaks USD 10.14 or GBP 6.99

Coke 12 pack USD 4.89 or GBP 3.37

Duval Street, Key West

Keys photos on Flickr

There are some high resolution pictures on Flickr now http://www.flickr.com/photos/xelazone.

Key West and the Southernmost Hotel in USA

This is where we are staying.
It is just about 300m away from the southern most point in the continental USA!

Islamorada

MIA tree.

It is becoming a tradition to take a photo of the palm outside Miami Airport every time I arrive, this time in the dark!

LHR T3 again.

So note to self to avoid using Virgin on a Sunday morning. It took 50mins standing in line to drop off my bag, reminds me of British Airways checkin queues before they moved to the excellent T5.

Apparently there was a brief bit of rain in Miami yesterday... But now paradise is back online.

Inspite of filling in the online Visa waiver form you still have to fill in the I-94W green Visa waiver form in pen and of course the Customs CBP Form 6059B.

Bring on the Florida Keys...

Miami soon

On Sunday I need to catch a flight to Miami.

Once there it is straight from the airport to the Keys for a few days, then back to Miami for the Ultramusic festival http://www.ultramusicfestival.com/.

I have uploaded some high definition pictures to Flickr now http://www.flickr.com/photos/xelazone .

So only a few days left in London but luckily I am here for the finals of the 6 Nations Rugby with Ireland holding out for the Grand Slam!

Unfortunately my home in London doesn't have a private pool like I did in Dubai.

The Cross at the Burj Al Arab

So in 2001 all cars got a number plate with the Burj Al Arab on it.
The sail shape became iconic for Dubai.

If you see the Burj from the sea there is apparently the worlds largest cross.

This didn't go down too well once discovered so in 2004 all the number plates were changed and the Burj is not used as the Dubai icon anymore.

Bar Flare

To see the video click above or goto http://www.youtube.com/xelazone.

I don't know about him but after 4 minutes with my arms in the air holding the camera and being walked into by people I was exhausted!

The Harbour and The Atlantis.

This is my hotel. On the top floor is the Observatory Bar with great views .

This is "The Atlantis" hotel, seen from my balcony, which is the same style as the one in the Bahamas and is the newest massive hotel complex in Dubai.

I think the brand is owned by Sol Kerzner who runs Sun City in South Africa.

Al Montaha at the Burj al Arab

By sharing each other's dishes we ended up eating Wagyu Tartare and Tiger prawns for a starter, followed by pan fried Barramundi and grilled Halibut. Bill came to AED 1630 (GBP 316) for two.

The restaurant (which has Space 2001 theme mixed with gold!) is adjacent to the Sky Bar where they have the most expensive cocktail in the world on offer.

The "27.321," named for the cost in UAE dirham (27,321 AED which is about $7,450) the floor where the Skyview Bar is located (27th) and the height of the Burj Al Arab (321 meters).

The cocktail is made from Macallan 55 year old single malt natural color whisky, exclusively produced 'dried fruit bitters' that carry and support the whisky's flavor, and homemade passion fruit sugar. The resulting cocktail is then served over ice cubes made of water from the Macallan distillery in Scotland, along with an oak stirrer made from a Macallan Cask. The cocktail is presented in a Baccarat 18-karat gold glass, which the buyer gets to take home!

Here (after a few cheaper whiskies!) is the mixologist beside his Guiness Book of Records display cabinet in the Sky Bar.

The Zen registered in London.

It is a Pershing 88.

Lounging about in 1203

This is my lounge and dining area.

It is so big my ipod speakers hardly fill the room!

Tonight is dinner in the Al Muntaha in the famous

Burj al Arab.

To fill the gap between then and now I may just have to go to the all you can eat sushi bar down on the Marina for AED 85 (GBP 17).

I am trying to get into shape for Miami Beach but surely just 40 pieces of sushi won't show ??

Not all glamour

7 years ago I remember visiting the Oasis Beach Hotel. It was down the end of Jumeriah by the Hilton and was there wasn't much else around.

Now it is being demolished in a rather hap hazard way. It is like seeing an old friend going, but time moves on...

There is a whole walkway now upto the Hilton and there is a "Butchers Shop" restaurant (the South African chain) there which I must visit as I have heard so much about it and the quality and cuts of the meat is supposed to be excellent.

Food shopping in Spinneys

The chain Spinneys has an outlet down on the Dubai Marina and out of interest here are the prices for some items to compare to the UK:

Covent Garden Leak and Potato soup = AED 23.50 or GBP 4.70
John West Yellowfin tuna in a tin = AED 10.50 or GBP 2.10
6 pack of Coke = AED 5.25 or GBP 1.05

Then can you believe it...

Waitrose 8 rashers of smoked bacon = AED 32.50 or GBP 6.50
Waitrose sliced cheddar cheese = AED 23.50 or GBP 4.70


But you wouldn't want to buy any of that really as you can get instead outstanding fresh fish and shellfish there and some fruits I have never seen before called "Mangosteen" and also "Rose Apples".

Blogger and Flickr in the UAE.

Here is the login page for Blogger in Arabic. Yes, you fill it in right to left.
It all runs through country wide proxy servers here to filter the content so to login to Blogger you have to go to https://www.blogger.com/start .



Interestingly Flickr is prohibited. So I can't see the gallery on the right of this screen.



If I stop filling in this blog it is because I have been banned as well!

Dubai at last

Two years ago I knew the places and could drive there, wow what a change as now I am lost. There maybe a credit crunch on but out down along the beach strip you would never know it.

The usual Dubai sounds still exist, jack hammers and that beeping sound from reversing ground moving vehicles, helicopters skimming the beach and the ever present Russian being spoken.

The Gulf sea is still as beautiful as ever. I love Dubai.

LHR Terminal 3

Security is mad at Heathrow Terminal 3. Shoes off style.

For me Heathrow Terminal 5 is the best London terminal, followed by London City airport.

I am flying Virgin but would have preferred Emirates. The reason for Virgin is airmiles as in two weeks I continue the party in Miami and Virgin fly direct, BA do but I always have trouble with them, AA do but that is just too basic an airline for my money.

I can't wait to see my hotel, The Harbour in Dubai Marina!

I have worked in Dubai before and stayed at the Hilton on Jumeria, the Radisson Media City, World Trade Centre apartments and the Royal Meridian on Jumeriah.

So off for a flight now, spa and beach tomorrow.

London

So on Tuesday I'm off to Dubai for a week.

I haven't been there for about 2 years and each time before it was for work; this time it is my money so I will make the most of it!

I remember it is advisable to buy your maxium amount of alcohol in duty free before you arrive as wine and spirits are really expensive (like GBP25 for a bottle of the cheapest wine) in Dubai.
2 Litres of spirits is probably the best value for money.

2 years ago they started a road toll scheme on the main highway, I think it is electronic tag based so I have no idea how that works with hire cars, but I don't intend to drive this time as I won't have time between the beach, spa and bars...

The weather is looking good http://www.dubaitourism.ae/Weather/tabid/326/language/en-US/Default.aspx