20 - 21 October 2013
For us, the first not-to-be-missed attraction in this stopover was the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque .
The mosque is recent, initiated by Sheikh Zayed and built between 1996 and 2007. He is buried on the site.
It is spectacular, massive, opulent - carpet and chandeliers, walls and floors defy description.
It uses materials from a large number of countries, including NZ (paua shell).
Inlaid marble adorns walls and courtyard.
Reflective pools add another dimension and it is surrounded by beautiful grounds.
Secondly, the Falcon hospital.
The taxi driver got lost taking us to the Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital but with help from his base we got there and are glad not to have missed the experience.
All you wanted to know about falcons and falconry and maybe a bit more. Falcons have their own passports - issued by this Falcon hospital - they are strictly controlled so that wild falcons cannot be captured and used for falconry. And they need to travel for hunting. The birds are expensive and breeding is restricted to registered breeders in a limited number of countries. There are a number of different breeds and also mixed breeds.
Falcons have to be taken out for training in catching prey every day, and can have accidents which require treatment. A feather out of place affects their stability - luckily replacement feathers can be glued in, as are radio transmitters, which allow lost falcons to be found, opening up different kinds of hunting.
Pedicures and beak sharpening are all part of the service. In addition birds will all get an annual check-up. About 6000 pass through the hospital each year.
The trip through the hospital includes the museum, treatment room, where visitors get to watch the treatments close up in real time, the free-flying aviary where falcons can, as suggested, fly free, and an opportunity for those that want to, to have a falcon sit on their arm. We were entranced!
Grateful thanks to Melanie, Jim, Madeleine and Scarlett.
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