We leave Italy behind and start heading for home. The train trip from Lake Como to the Airport is uneventful but, as per usual for us, we arrive with too many hours to spare and need to while away some time in one of the local restaurants drinking wine and reminiscing about the trip. So a few wines later we are wide eyed and ready to check in and board the flight.

Arriving in Dubai, having not slept a wink due to the wine, we are met with a significant line to clear border control and customs. It takes about an hour and a half to move through as several flights have come in at the same time but thankfully we are met by our driver from the hotel who makes the commute to the Taj a lot easier after the overnight flight.

We settle into our room and have brunch and a quick nap before heading out for the afternoon to sightsee. The heat difference has us looking for air conditioned comfort so its off to walk the malls and shops for the evening.

The next day is spent jumping on and off the sightseeing buses taking in the various shopping malls and points of interest. The commentary provided by the tour bus company confirms to us that Dubai is about doing everything bigger and better than anywhere else. They are keen to promote the capabilities of the area and build structures that are both enormous and opulent to make a point. The people and service however are as good, if not better, than anywhere we have travelled before. They make staying here easy and comfortable but their driving habits are similar to the Italians, a little crazy but it seems to work.

We have booked a desert diner tour which sees us picked up from the hotel early afternoon by a budding Paris to Dubai Rally driver in a Toyota Land Cruiser. He is happy, chatty and a lead foot when it comes to sand dunes. Racing up the slopes, cresting carefully then careening down the other side is great fun for all of us.

We join up in the dunes with other four wheel drives to take in some sand dune boarding and To watch the sunset. The wind blowing the sand sets the colours for the sunset which are beautiful to watch and, as opposed to Brisbane, twilight lasts for about an hour after the sun goes down. From there its off to a Bedouin style open air camp site for dinner while being entertained by dancers and fire breathing acts.

Our last day in Dubai sees us trying to escape the heat again however we do manage to catch the water fountains in the pool in front of the Burj Khalifa building. This building is a monster at nearly 830 metres high. The pool with the fountains is also impressive as is the water spurting display. It’s a great show and we are also lucky enough to have the moon appear from behind the building at the right time.

We pack tonight for our final flight back home after three and a half weeks away. It’s been fun and tiring at the same time. Now back to work to save for the next trip…