Roundabouts

I'm glad that people seem to be enjoying these posts. Desert Dwellers comment on the last one about the Al Qala/Castle Roundabout, near Al Ahlia Stores gives me an excuse to explain what motived these.

If you never saw the Al Qala (castle in Arabic) roundabout before they tore it down, it was just south of the Al Ahlia stores and one block north of the Diwan. It still has a nice step fountain and in the middle was a large round castle structure that looked a little like a three-level a wedding cake. You can see a similar shaped castle here.

I loved this roundabout, not only because it was a very nice looking one, but also because it was so distinctive and the closest one to our house. We live just west of that roundabout, toward Abu Dhabi. So it was really convienent to tell delivery drivers or visitors how to get there from that roundabout.

I always meant to take some pictures of it, but just never got around to it. One reason is that it is difficult to park near there (at least if you are unwillingly to just park in the right lane of the roundabout, which I am; it doesn't stop a lot of other people from parking there and having conversations with friends though). You know how there are things that you always mean to do, but keep putting off.

Then one day I came home and there was a wooden construction fence around it. I wondered what in the world they were doing. A few weeks went by and the wrecking equipment came and brought the castle down. So now, not only do I not have that great castle to look at (but as DD said, only some palm trees and a couple of AC units), and no pictures of the castle, I have to begin directions with "You know where the Al Qala roundabout used to be?"

So, since Bss and the kids are still not here from Summer vacation, I'm taking some of my time to take pictures of these beauties before those fine, upstanding, hardworking fellows at the municipality tear any more of them down.