Wednesday, 6 December 2021
Tucson, Arizona

Today's posting will exhibit the final photos from EXPO (although I have more on the computer). This will also include some photos of EXPO food.

More Photos from Dubai, UAE

EXPO 2020 

Inside French Pavilion: Display of Luxury Domestic Items

Real Trees Inside Swedish Pavilion

Israel

Inside China Pavilion:  Driving a High-Speed Train


Belarus

 

  

Hand-Made Chandelier in Dubai Crafts Shop

Theme Pavilion:  Terre

Netherlands

Inside Saudi Arabia Pavilion

Slovenia

Entrance to Sustainability District

Inside German Pavilion

Azerbaijan

Outdoor Shade and Light Fixtures

And now for some food:

Greek Pavilion Restaurant:  A Moussaka Presentation That Looks Like Dessert
and Tastes Like a Full Meal
along with . . .

A Boatload of Beautiful Tomatoes and Feta Cheese Sails
in This Fabulous Greek Salad

I Might Have Posted This Authentic Belgian Waffle Previously, 
But It's Scrumptious Enough for Another View

I Wanted to Try This Restaurant, but I Never Found the Time

Famous Parisian Nougat Cakes in French Food Hall

Chicken Schnitzel in the German Pavilion Restaurant

Now I am hungry enough to go out for dinner. Perhaps there will be more photos from cruise in the next blog. 

Monday, 6 December 2021
Tucson, Arizona

Still unpacking and putting things away, but Will and I went out for breakfast--while Dolores, our alternate Mondays two-hour housekeeper, does her work--to the nearby branch of the Bisbee Breakfast Club for a large breakfast, with the best biscuits in southern Arizona.

More Photos from Dubai, UAE

EXPO 2020 

As promised, another round of EXPO photos:

EXPO 2020 Entrance Plaza

Turkmenistan

Peru

Penguin Models Outside Chile Pavilion

Carpets Inside Iran Pavilion

Rug-Making Demonstration Inside Iran Pavilion

Singapore

Giant Marble Model of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum's Favorite Horse;
Lines of the Sheikh's Poetry Projected on the Walls

USA

United Arab Emirates (UAE)

     

United Arab Emirates (UAE) Pavilion Interior

Indonesia

Japan

Outside Portugal Pavilion

South Korea

Light Show Projected on Inner Surface of Wasl (Central Connection Plaza)

Visitors Cooling Off in Water Feature

Sunday, 5 December 2021
Tucson, Arizona

I am safely arrived home in Tucson and returning to the mundane after-travel chores--unpacking, petting the cat, laundry, petting the cat, putting things away, petting the cat, etc. Of course, I m especially  happen to be with Will again after 26 days. This was our first time apart since November 2019, before all the Covid chaos began.

I am also happy to report that with some extra preparation and precautions international travel is not only possible, but thoroughly enjoyable. With the continued outbreak of the Delta variant in the US, I felt safer in Dubai--with its very high vaccination rates--and on board ms Riviera. All passengers and crew were fully vaccinated and tested prior to boarding; passengers were required to wear masks in all public spaces (until this mandate was cancelled after the ship left European/African waters); the crew had to wear masks even after the mandate for passengers was cancelled. And there were no breakthrough cases throughout the entire journey. Of course, who knows how the Omicron variant and the sure-to-come other variants will affect future travel.

More Photos from Dubai, UAE
EXPO 2020 

As promised, here are more photos from EXPO:

Saudi Arabia

Ukraine

Finland

Theme Pavilion:  Mobility

Outside View of Wasl--the Gathering Place

Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan Interior

Dominican Republic Interior--Carnaval Costume

Algeria

Theme Pavilion: Mobility (Another View)

Belgium

Sparse Crowds on Weekdays

Australia

Oman

Thailand

Not surprisingly, the pavilions I found most interesting were countries I have not visited. Pavilions from countries I have been to seemed oversimplified and trite.

I will continue to post more EXPO photos over the next several days.