Day 25 – Sunday 7 January 2018

The boys go back to school & Charles back to work today so a 7am start & early breakfast.  Later after our breakfast Tereza & I go for a long walk around Al Bandar & along the canals, the multi-story apartment blocks have a large collection of shops underneath, mainly cafes & other food shops.  In front is a large private sandy beach, with a collection of various canoes & other like watercraft stored at either end.  There is a jungle of high rise buildings & they are still building more.  We are wondering if they are expecting an influx of people or what are the many high rise apartments for.  The building Monica’s live in has many empty apartments.  Here the expats don’t live in compounds, in UAE the locals live with people from anywhere & everywhere.  We admire the large water body with the Yas Island developments across the other side & begin our leisurely stroll back to the apartment for lunch.  Afterwards we head down to the pool for a relaxing swim then even more relaxing in the hot spa with soothing massage jets, then the pool again.  The boys come home from school & surprise us, still in the pool.  Austin quickly joins us & we spend more time swimming & mucking around in the pool.

At 6pm we head to the Yas Marina Formula One race track & pick up a free bicycle for a free ride around the track, all 5.55kms of it.  It is amazing the number of people that are out here, mostly cycling but some jogging.  There is all levels of skill, a lot of them riding their own expensive cycles fast, a lot like us just poking around & enjoying the atmosphere.  There are some ambulances placed at strategic locations around the track, just in case.  It is amazing how long the main straight is, mostly downhill.  Jackson wins the race to the finish line.  The uphill part of the track is a little bit taxing.  Afterwards we headed to the Yas Mall for dinner & groceries.  Another very pleasant day.