Sharjah

Well Sharjah is one of those cities we hadn’t been to yet so I thought staying the night there might be a good idea. One problem with Sharjah is it isn’t the easiest place to get around when you have never been there before. Also it doesn’t help when you approach from the wrong direction and end up driving around in the industrial area. The hotel wasn’t expensive, but it turned out to be a small sparsely furnished apartment with nothing else in it; and to be honest by the time we had settled a bit after driving around looking for the place it was getting a bit late to do too much. Was a shame because apparently the heritage area is the nicest part of the city.

We did get down to have a look around one of the malls and a junk shop for K, then off to the Blue Souq for a look, and then ended up in Qanat Al Qasba for the evening as there were lots of people around and some markets. Did the touristy thing and went on Eye of The Emirates, had a boat ride up and down the canal, watched some traditional dancing, and fireworks.
Sharjah just takes me as somewhere that developed, rested for a little while, and is now developing a little again. It just feels a bit run down and with Dubai right next door, there really doesn’t seem to be a pressing need to go there unless you have to. In saying that we will go back at some point to have a look around the heritage area, but next time wont bother staying o/n.

We did do the right thing though and came home via a day in Dubai. Went for a drive around to show off Burj al Arab and Jumeirah, Mall of the Emirates for breakfast and to see Ski Dubai, then Ibn Bhattuta just because it is always worth seeing inside. A trip long Sheik Zayed Rd and seeing all the construction I think made up for the Sharjah choice!