Green is Good!

Welcome back!

I hope you all have experienced some good luck after eating some paczki last Tuesday.  This week, we are leaving our traditional routes of Europe and America and traveling to the Arabian Peninsula.  The United Arab Emirates, otherwise known as the UAE, is home to 9.2 million people.  Of those people, 7.8 million are expatriates, simply meaning that they are not technically citizens of the UAE, but living in the country, temporarily or permanently, for work.

World map zoomed in on the UAE.  Photo courtesy of ras.ae

The fact that about 85% of the people living in the UAE are there for work is easy to understand.  Think about it, when we usually hear "UAE," we typically picture either the world's tallest skyscraper or the general city of Dubai.

 

Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world, and Dubai at night. Photos courtesy of wnova.com and docusign.com

It goes without saying that the UAE has much more to offer rather than stunning skylines, and that's where we are heading to today.  Today's destination: Safa Park, Dubai.

The city of Dubai can be roughly compared to New York City.  The town is wall-to-wall jam packed with businesses, restaurants and attractions.  Sure, everybody loves the city life.  That's why people go to New York City: to experience the upscale, urban, fast-paced lifestyle. But there's a reason Central Park exists in NYC, people need time to slow it down.  Dubai has its own "Central Park," named Safa Park. 

Aerial view of Safa Park.  Photo courtesy of magic-uae.ru

Safa Park is located on the outskirts of Dubai.  It was created in 1975 by illegal immigrants who resided in makeshift homes where the park is now located.  The Dubai government had the illegal immigrants create the park and then granted them amnesty.  

The park has been through several renovations.  In the 40 years it has existed, the park went from being a simple nature park to the park we see above with recreational and service facilities.  

A waterfall flows to the largest of the three lakes, where tourists can then go on a boat tour. According to WhatsOn.ae, a website based in Dubai and intended to bring tourists to the city, Safa Park is the "vast park... [the] perfect place to get lost at the weekend – literally if you come across the mini maze." They continue to say that in the park, tourists can also stop at the fresh farmer's market or stop in the Archive for some coffee.

Whether you're in NYC or Dubai, The Smoky Mountains or the Tatras Mountains, there is serenity just around the corner.  Come back next week as we reveal yet another hidden cove.