Abu Dhabi has big parking problems, which over the past 18 months since living here, are slowly being ironed out (by the introduction of parking fines, ticketing machines etc.,) but I know that to park anywhere near where you want to go, you get there early. (Like when I want to go to Marina Mall and park underground I need to get there before the main shops open!) I didn't want to risk driving round and round trying to find a car park for hours, nor did I want to find a car park I was unable to get out of (cars seem to park where ever they can, in little nooks, behind you, doesn't matter!) so we left home relatively early. I parked the car close to The Corniche and basically across the road from the actual beach. (I had warned MissM there could be a walk involved which didn't go too well but she was happy to see we only had to cross the road.)
Now yes, I said it was a public beach, but you do have to pay for the privilege to use it. For me it was 10 dirham (about $3.30aud), MissM was 5 dirham (about $1.75aud), MissL, she was free, and honestly, you don't mind paying that kind of money when you see how clean, safe and 'funky' the beach actually is. It is gorgeous.
Now another 25 dirham ($8aud) bought me a comfortable beach lounge (and umbrella) to use for the day. (Not that we were planning on staying all day - a couple of hours at most).
MissL enjoyed sitting on her little shade thingy for about 5 minutes when she decided the sand looked too good not to taste and then got all 'grumbly' and proceeded to nap in her pram for most of the time we were there.
MissM was overjoyed to be back on the beach.
Kinda reminds me of this pic taken before we left Trinity beach, 20 months ago...
...minus the more 'natural beauty', rather than the man-made type of beauty. But to a child, a beach is a beach.
We stayed for a couple of hours all up, which was my aim, and not an easy feat being alone with two young children. I kept MissM happy by the promise of a Baskin Robbins ice cream when we left. (The boardwalk at The Corniche now has a scattering of little shops selling everything from ice-cream...to souvenirs. Nice!)
It was a lovely morning out, arriving home not long after midday.
I only wish we have had done it sooner, so perhaps we will be doing this mini-mission a bit more often, however the Hot Season is quickly creeping up on us so soon it will be impossible to even contemplate the thought of going to the beach, let alone physically doing it.