Old Bastakia
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Old Bastakia
Dubai's American Community developed around the Oil Companies developing Dubai's Oil Industry. These companies established and supported Jumeirah American School and Dubai Petroleum Wives Club (PWC), a social Club for Dubai's growing international Community. PWC organised a traditional New Orleans Mardi Gras Parade in Dubai.
Mardi Gras Ball took place on the evening before Friday's Nardi Gras Parade at Dubai's newly opened Astoria Hotel's Ballroom. Mardi Gras Ball was the Astoria Hotel's first major event. Hurricane Glasses from Pat Obrien’s in New Orleans' French Quarter were flown in to add authenticity to the evening plus Hurricane Mix for the traditional “Hurricane” drinks. PWC's Ladies painted French Quarter scenes on plywood sheets to decorate Astoria's Ballroom and create a New Orleans “Bourbon Street” facade.
Mardi Gras Parade assembled by the (old) Jumeirah American School. Led by the traditional "Flambeaus", the Parade began to move through Jumeirah's suburban streets accompanied by the Dubai Police Pipe Band. McDermott Swingers Softball Team had a "Float" on the parade. Softball was started by Dubai's American Community in 1975. The Team competed in the Dubai Softball League. Mardi Gras Parade makes its way past the boundary wall of the old Jumeirah American School. The School has since relocated to the Al Barsha area and the old Jumeirah American School building demolished. Mardi Gras Parade makes it way onto Jumeirah Beach Road from Dubai Zoo Road, moving slowly along Jumeirah Beach Road trailed by Horse Riderts and children on small motorbikes. No one seemed too concerned about young children driving "off road" motorbikes along Jumeirah Road in 1978!
Mardi Gras photos by Gary Tauzen, Houston, Texas USA. Gary says "Our Houston based Group has held Dubai Reunions in the USA every three years since 1988 with 650 attending. Our next reunion may be in Dubai in 2012. Our FaceBook Site is Dubai Reunion 2012..."Back in Dubai" and e-mail address thedubaireunion(at)gmail.com. We have over 2,000 registered entries".
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