Given a 3 day weekend and a long stretch of time since the last one we decided to do something special and head over to Bahrain for a couple of nights. The weather was excellent for pool and beach and we even hit some cultural highlights that Crystal and I had not seen in over a decade including the Bahraini fort (ancient Dilum city with a Portuguese fort built over it) and the Grand Mosque of Bahrain. The Grand Mosque used to have the world’s largest fiberglass dome, but, apparently, Dubai liked so much that they made one that is bigger. Enjoy the pictures.
Kai in the Bahrain Fort Museum.
Kai, Nora and Crystal in the Museum.
New low tide by the fort.
Flag above the Bahraini fort.
At the fort entrance.
Juxtaposition of the ancient ruins and modern skyline.
The tower in the fort.
Kai and Nora returning from the fort.
Kai and Nora at the fort.
A scrap metal sculputre of wasps outside the museum.
Kai and Nora paddle boating on the lagoon.
Paddle boating on the lagoon.
Nora with her head scarf.
The grand mosque.
A minaret and the Grand Mosque.
A minaret and the Grand Mosque.
Kai, Nora and Crystal getting ready to enter the mosque. There were multiple tour coaches of german tourists entering at the same time. Who knew?
Nora goes hijab. She couldn't wait.
This 3.5 ton chandelier hangs from the world's second largest fiberglass dome. Aparently from an aluminum support and not the dome itself. So cool but not as amazing as it once was.
There are over 1000 of these hand blows French globes in the mosque.
French blown glass blubs with Iranian stained glass.
Ben, Kai and Nora near the qibla.
Perspective shot down the archway.
Crystal, Kai and Nora on the balcony where the women pray.
Panorama from the balcony of the grand mosque.
Panorama from the second floor.
Crystal, Kai and Nora on the balcony in the Grand Mosque.
Kai outside the Grand Mosque.
Ritz girl.
Nora has on her best dress and even gets some makeup.
Crystal and Kai dressed up for fancy dinner out.
Crystal and Nora waiting for our car to head out to Bushido.
Kai tries his hand at Tepanyaki