View from the Sky...

The Burj Al Arab is the "World's only 7-star hotel".  It was built on an artificial island and is accessible only by a private road.  The hotel is designed to look like a dhow ship and the design and construction were actually managed by a Canadian engineer.

The hotel was so concerned with eager tourists flooding its grounds for a pic that it has cut off access to the public, allowing only those that are booked as guests of the hotel or restaurants to enter.  Even the Hop On Hop Off bus turns away from the area before it gets too close to the hotel!

View from the Sky Bar

Equipped with a reservation code in hand, Molly and Beth headed to the Burj Al Arab for a morning "afternoon tea" in the Sky Restaurant located on the hotel's top floor.  The views were exquisite as we sipped our very sweet date sparkling wine, chatting and watching the clock until noon hit and they could serve the real champagne.

Afternoon tea seems to me the most civilized of activities - an opportunity to sit back and enjoy a good catch up over a nice cup of tea and a meal comprised of several courses of cookies and carbs.

Below is one of my favourite pictures of Molly's visit.  The waiter took about 10 pictures of us and this is the best one he could get.  The only decent picture we got of us there was of us in the hotel lobby, with absolutely none of the view showing.  Perhaps this is part of their strategy to keep things exclusive??