Al Ain - Hili Archeological Park

Our last stop in Al Ain was the Hili Archeological Park. I had been here too before but Carin really wanted to see these Bronze Age tombs, as she collects (yes!) UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

And just like that - four fantastic days had come to an end.
Oaw, looking back at them like this we really did do so many things (again!), and had so much fun, and talked and talked, and enjoyed ourselves so much!
Thank you for coming Carin - I'm so grateful for you and for our friendship!

Al Ain - The Oasis

Next to the Al Ain Palace Museum is the Al Ain Oasis. I have been there before two, a few times, but never mind how many times I visit, I love it. It's an amazing place, so lush and green and full of birds who sing.

We found this cool artwork while walking around inside the oasis. An installation called 'The Heart of Water' by Leandro Erlich. A mysterious cloud, easy to see but impossible to touch at the same time, hiding inside this traditionally Emirati Areesh structure.
"Water is, after all, the secret heart of any oasis, and clouds represent the heart of rain and irrigation."

Outside the oasis is this small model of the oasis, and a display on how the Falaj (irrigation) system works.

Al Ain - The Palace Museum

Our second stop in Al Ain was lunch. A quick pitstop at Starbucks got us ready for more adventures and exploring!

I took Carin to see the Al Ain Palace Museum. I had already been here once with my parents, but Carin had a good look around while I took a little break in the shade. See me down there on the stairs - and her up on the balcony?

Al Ain - Al Muwaiji Fort

We couldn't quite decide what to do with Carin's last day here, and ended up making our plans really late. We did consider going up to Dubai or going back to Louvre Abu Dhabi, but we felt pretty done with both. Instead we settled for a road trip to Al Ain as Carin was keen on discovering another part of Abu Dhabi.
We started our day at the beautiful Qasr Al Muwaiji:

Since 2011, this fort has formed part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Al Ain; together with the Bronze and Iron Age sites and buildings of Hili and Bida Bint Saud, and the oases of the city.

At the entrance of the fort there is a lovely permanent exhibition dedicated to the ruler of Abu Dhabi, and the President of the UAE - Sheikh Khalifa, as this is the place where he was born and grew up.

We were shown around the fort by one of the cultural guides who worked there, she was absolutely lovely and very proud of her workplace.

The exhibition focuses on the Al Nayhan ruling family and their life in Al Ain, but it's also displaying some of the archaeological finds from the fort.

Ever seen a public restroom this pretty?

The north-west tower, where the Sheikh Khalifa lived with his family. Inside there was a small display about his family's life here in Al Ain.
We got to climb the roof as well, to have a photo. 

The Majlis:

So many pretty Kodak moments!

The courtyard:

I'm so glad we decided to go to Al Ain to discover and explore something new!