We pulled into Jebel Ali port, about a twenty minute cab ride from Dubai. I went out and had a good time, got some good food, had some fun in the sun at the bar, and then went out to a club because we all know that Dane Cook’s saying, “I just wanna dance” really kind of applies to me. I hung out with some of the new ensigns onboard. A picture of me and Thomas is below. We had a good time out at the club. It takes a bit of alcohol for the others to get into the whole dancing mood, but after a bit of time and some insistent urging, everybody ended up having a good time dancing.
We got a bit tired and headed back to the hotel a bit early. I got into sweats and relaxed a bit. One of the new Ensigns, John, was randomly saying things that would for some reason crack everybody up. Maybe the alcohol had something to do with it, but it made for some sides hurting.I went to bed and when I got up I found out that the crew of the Mobile Bay had been recalled. It turns out that someone onboard got arrested, and the whole ship got called back. It really ruins a port visit when you gotta go back to the ship. So everyone got their stuff together and headed back to the ship.
During times of war, at certain ports, a bunch of American companies open small facilities right around where the Carrier pulls in. The entire strike group was restricted to this area, the Sandbox. The Sandbox has a Burger King, Subway, Popeye’s, and you can buy alcohol. The whole thing is actually really gross. I wish I had my camera there so I could show all of you what this was like.
Imagine a bunch of people outside in 90 degree weather, drunk, sweating, wearing wife beaters and talking about whatever it is they can think of. It is amazing the difference between what I did from one port visit to another. Stay at the only seven star hotel in the world versus a roped off area for people to get drunk and stupid.
Looks like Mobile Bay will not be going back to the United Arab of Emirates anytime soon. Ironic.
4 comments:
Sorry to hear that your port call in Jebel Ali was so miserable. There's always one in every crowd that can't keep their act together to the detriment of the entire strike group. I'll bet they are really comfortable in the tar & feathers!
We're still coping with extreme heat (102 degrees today) & poor air quality here in No. California. The forecast is for a week of temps over a hundred so no relief in sight for the exhausted firefighters trying to get control of the fires, but it's heaven on earth compared to the part of the world you're stuck in...
Stay healthy & safe,
xo
After a 7-star hotel, I don't think much else would compare.
San Diego is warm and summerlike. We're not getting the extreme heat the rest of the state is but they are asking us to conserve electricity to help the rest of the state. Comic-con is 2wks away so that should add to some summer fun. With the awesome weather BBQing on the weekends is starting. I hosted a BBQ a couple weeks ago and this weekend Johnny is hosting one. Food, alcohol, and Wii, can't get much better.
Taco Tuesday update: no more exciting stories of Joel dropping salsa on his crotch, but April has been harassing the boys properly. Wall-e was funny and worth seeing. Wanted was actually good; had a bit more story that some cared for in an action movie, but overall it was good. Next up is Hellboy 2, Dark Knight, X-files, and Mummy 3.
Joel bought a condo, Alex is going to be his roomy, Chris is still gay, Rome is busy at work with a new product launch, and I'm enjoying my summer off. That's the excitement from here. Stay safe. <3
Note to the Comic-con attendees:
Our good friend, Gabrielle Ritter, will be participating in a panel discussion (or something like that) during Comic-con. She did the voice of several Peanuts characters (Pigpen & Linus, I think) during her grammar school years in the late 1960's but they're still the same re-runs every Halloween (Great Pumpkin) & Christmas (A Charlie Brown Christmas). Go check her out... tell her you're a friend of Mitchell's! You'll enjoy meeting her and I'm sure she'd get a kick out of meeting all of you as well :)
I think I might have seen that name on the schedule; I'd have to go and double check. Depending on what else is going on that might be something to look into. Hearing stories of lil Mitchy is always good =)
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