In the Lap of Luxury...

Well, this month I started my weight loss challenge... again...  This time I am attempting to lose 16 pounds. Since I really am not THAT fat, the weight comes off pretty slowly. While most people that have a lot of weight to lose reward themselves every 10 pounds or so, I decided that to keep my motivation up I would reward myself every 2 pounds.
Yes, I am aware that when you are attempting to lose weight you should never reward yourself with food.. BUT, this was my first two pounds lost and this is the ONLY reward that involves food... AND I was going to do it anyway...

 

 My reward was a trip to Emirates Palace. Emirates Palace is one of only three seven-star hotels in the World. The Burj Al Arab in Dubai is another, along with a hotel in Italy being the third. Everything is over-the-top done up in marble and gold. Yes, real gold. Teaching in the states touching gold was pretty much out of my budget, but here, I can EAT gold. So I did.


My 24 karat gold flaked cappucino:

My chocolate on chocolate on chocolate cake, dusted in 24 karat gold.

They even have an ATM that dispenses gold. I loved the advertisement that said "Now the Easier Way to Get Your Gold".. And to think all this time I was going about it the hard way... Or in this case, not at all.

 

 

The huge dome ceiling above the lobby:



 

 

The entrance:



There is a contemporary art gallery inside the hotel, and I liked this one. Yes, those are all PEARLS!

So, this outing was a great day to reward myself on a small victory. If you are ever in Abu Dhabi, Emirates Palace is a "must see"!