Over the last few years I've had the opportunity to visit Dubai several times, and admittedly, I've never liked it. The city is beautiful and expensive but it also doesn't have much character. In many ways, it reflects all the bad things about urban planning. Everything is designed to be so refined and perfect according to some particular set of values that the wonderful spontaneity of urbanism is squashed. But last week I made a series effort to explore the city and try to get to know it better. I wandered on foot for several hours, relaxed on the beach, stopped by a few cafes and watched a movie at the mall. In a city famous for glass towers, it was my goal to find a more human side to the city. I'm not sure if I really found it that day, but I did at least catch a glimpse, and left Dubai a little less skeptical.
I also collected GPS points along the way, and above is a map documenting my walk through the city. Below are also some photographs taken. If the gallery doesn't load you can access them here.
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