So we did make it to the Emirates Palace and it did deliver. I substituted my hammer for a swimming suit because I wanted to sneak into the pool....but someone thought that would be a bad idea, so we were good and just took pictures. Enjoy

The Palace from the front (royal) entrance

It looks small but I swear it is huge

(I am not going to say it but I just set myself up for a Michael Scott comment there...hahha...Laud you know what I am talking about)

This a picture of the dome

Even more impressive in person

The opening below the dome

Flowers everywhere

(Anna I was thinking of you)

And of course gold everywhere too

(Gazelle I was thinking of you)

So in case you don't follow soccer the Federation Cup Semi-Finals were last Wednesday USA vs Spain. So I decided to take a bet with a Spaniard I know against odds of 1,000,000,000 to 1 that USA would bet Spain. Well turns out USA came out victorious and we won 2-0!!!! The Spanish haven't lost since 2006!!

E celebrating and G drinking his sorrows away

No his Grandma didn't just die, America just scored goal number two!

So we had a "business" engagement on Thursday night...I think Gorka still isn't over the tough loss from the other night.

Elizabeth and I have befriended two really cool girls, Sallie and Patricia, and we had a little girls day at the beach. The water is really warm...a little to warm actually...but it was fun to be out in the sun. Our apartment is seriously a two minute walk from the beach...nice.

Ok I know this picture looks like there should be people in it but Elizabeth, Sallie and Patricia are right behind me....they really exist...I swear

So last night we decided to go to a nice dinner, it was literally the fanciest restaurant I have ever been too. The food was really nice, the company was excellent, the service was great, and there were even a few ducks that showed up ...which was kind of cute until they started popping everywhere.

I had a tuna steak, I really am having a wonderful time I just hate taking pictures by myself.

Obviously, Gorka and Elizabeth are having a good time...awww so cute.

Ummm, the perfect way to end a lovely evening

Okay so I am really bad at this blogging stuff but I am going to try my best to stay on top of it. So I have been in Abu Dhabi for almost two weeks now and it has been really fun so far.

This is a picture of the office.

This is the view of our apt. You can see the Corinche (the beach) and the Emirate Palace (a 7-star Hotel we are going to check it out today...I am going to bring a hammer because supposedly there is gold everywhere)

This is my new commute...not bad.

My room

My new co-workers/best friend. We are forced to spent 40 + hours together and then every other waking moment as well ... good thing they are hella cool.

Gorka

(the Miami-ian with the perfect hair....haha ok he is from Spain he would kill me if I told everyone he was from Miami)

Elizabeth (she is from NY and "knows how to get Sh*t done")

So the first day of work G, E, and I went to Al Ain for a site visit to get some information on this proposal we were writing. Al Ain is about 1.5 hours East for Abu Dhabi and in the middle of the desert and HOT.

That is right 47 degree C which is 117 degrees F...but it was a dry heat so it really wasn't that bad...basically it felt like we were in an oven...awesome.

The desert sand and landscape is beautiful!

We took a little trip to the Marina Mall and you can see part of the Abu Dhabi's skyline.

(Holy flags Batman)

We also hit the town our first weekend too. We were seriously out for 10 hours...

(Don't mind the random dude on the right he was in love with

Elizabeth and wouldn't get out of the picture)

I don't even know what time it is but I am done.