On our second full day in Dubai, we headed to the Dubai Mall. We had heard so much about the place we were curious to see all the hoopla about it. We took the metro from the Deira City Center Station close to our hotel and after just a few stops, we arrived. We were quite surprised by the walk we had to do from the metro stop to the mall. It must have been a mile. It was long. Anyway, the long walk did give us the chance to see the view outside. Needless to say, we were impressed by the tall skyscrapers there were in the area. Of course, the Burj Khalifa simply towered everything else nearby.

A mall is a mall. What sets the Dubai Mall from all its counterparts all over the globe is its sheer size. It is big indeed. We didn't go shopping here on our first visit but I did so right before we returned to the US six days later. I bought a coffee table book about the UAE from Kinokinuya Bookstore as well as an 18 carat gold chain from Galeries Lafayette at 50% off.

We also ate here twice. Overall, I found UAE restaurant food prices very similar to ours in the US. During the UAE weekend which was Thursday to Saturday, there was a White Flower Sale and people went to the mall in droves to shop. The Deira City Center Mall across our hotel was particularly full of people, shopping and taking advantage of the discounts from 50 to 90% off retail prices.

Anyway, the Burj Khalifa was right opposite the Dubai Mall and we also got to see the dancing fountains while we were there. Surprisingly the show lasted less than five minutes.

Did I enjoy myself in the mall? I most certainly did. Not because it was fun to shop but because it was a colorful place. The place looked very upscale and rich.