When Plans Change
It was our last day in Dubai, and we started with a plan.
We were supposed to take in the view from the best place to see The Palm: The View at The Palm. Tickets in hand, until they were canceled at the last minute. A disappointment, for sure. But it was also a reminder that travel requires flexibility, whether you want it or not.
So we pivoted. Quickly.
An Uber took us to Palm West Beach instead. The promenade was perfect for the morning…easy walking, the beach nearby, a slower start than we’d planned. We strolled, talked, and let the hours pass naturally. It worked. Until the temperature rose and staying still no longer made sense.
Next, we headed to Old Dubai.
It felt like a different city altogether. Less polished. Less glossy. We walked a bit, then boarded a small boat to cross the creek—a simple ride, practical and grounding. The street vendors were more persistent than I prefer, and the pace felt heavier than the places we’d seen earlier in the week.
It wasn’t my favorite stop.
But it was part of the story.
To close the day and the trip, we went somewhere unmistakably Dubai: Dubai Miracle Garden. Colorful. Over-the-top. Iconic. A place that doesn’t try to be subtle, and doesn’t need to be.
It felt like the right ending.
Not everything went as planned.
But the day still gave us what it had to give.
And sometimes, that’s exactly enough.
