Pictured at bottom is the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi. Richard Merion and several other travelers from the Chester County Chamber of Commerce's trip to Dubai took a side trip to neighboring emarite Abu Dhabi on Friday.
Abu Dhabi is the capital of the United Arab Emirates and is the wealthies of the seven emirates. This is the second largest mosque in the world.

As part of the tour we drove into the grounds of the President's Palace when an armed guard wouldn't allow us through the main gate. Our guide informed us the president is a very friendly person who sometimes drives himself around the city on his own.
At top is the interior of the Grand Palace Hotel in downtown Abu Dhabi. Rooms there go for several thousand dollars a night. All the floors above the first floor are reserved for VIPs and members of the Royal Family. Numerous museum displays are exhibited throughout the hotel.
On the way to Abu Dhabi we passed numerous palaces surrounded by walls and orchards, all owned by members of the Royal Families.

Richard Merion of West Chester