Few places rival the juxtaposition of Dubai: man-made white sandy beaches set against a backdrop of an overgrown city skyline.  I took this picture as I lounged in the warm January sun, recovering from a long travel day that included an 8-hour stopover in Munich.  Our flight was direct from Denver to Munich, and I was lucky enough to secure a complimentary upgrade to Polaris.  Once we cleared immigration, we checked our hand luggage at the airport, hopped the train to the city, and began exploring Munich.  The overnight flight to Dubai meant we arrived at 7am – check-in at the Habtoor Grand Resort was flawless and we were treated like royalty.  The room was outstanding with a lovely view of the sea.  After a long shower and unpacking, we were off to lounge on the beach: napping, sampling some drinks, and getting some much needed Vitamin D.  Then of course planning our evening out in Dubai.  We only have a couple days here before we’re off to the Maldives, so balancing relaxation and sightseeing is paramount.