Dates

The Couchsurfing host turned out to be so kind and generous that she and her husband decided to take me on a trip from Dubai to Abu Dhabi. At that point, everything still felt so overwhelming. It had only been a few days since I left Poland to begin my who-knows-how-long journey to Australia.

I really appreciated the opportunity to see this fascinating country from a local perspective. On the way to Abu Dhabi, we bought some dates from a street vendor. It was probably the first time I’d tried them, and they were delicious.

We visited the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, and it was the first—and so far, the only—time I’ve ever visited a mosque. It was breathtaking.

What a strange and fascinating country.

UAE, 2014