Today we went to the Gold Souk. The Gold Souk is a open air mall that is surrounded by jewellery shops. There is so much gold in the windows that you start to think that it can't all possibly be real but it is!

It was steaming hot outside and as the area is outside and not airconditioned we were grateful when we entered the shop and they offered us cold soft drinks while we browsed. We liked a few things and when we asked the price and thought it was a bit much straight away they start dropping the prices. Basically you barter with them just like you would at a market. There is that much competition in the area that if you even look like you might go somewhere else to bend over backwards to keep you in their shop and with the exchange rate the way it is you can certainly spend up big without maxing out your credit cards.

We made a few purchases from a couple of different stores (Tony brought Catherine a ring, bracelet, earrings, necklace and pendant!). We got our jewellery cleaned and then headed back to the air-conditioned Mall of the Emirates to finish looking around (we couldn't get around the whole place earlier in the week as it is just way too big!).

Tip for the guys: If you are giong to buy your significant other a lot of jewellery it is nearly worth the airfare just to buy it from the Gold Souk!