Just arrived at the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi

Our view walking up from the visitors parking area

The view from the front main entrance of the Mosque

Erin and Trevor escaping the crowds and running down the main stairs

Easily entertained... before the tour started!

Large domes and landscaping that hide the enormous lights
used to light the Mosque at night.

Shallow pools line each side of the Mosque

Massive courtyard after you entered the front entrance

Marble flowers on the courtyard floor

Entrance into the foyer which leads to the main prayer hall

Photo op just outside the main courtyard as we exited the prayer hall

Glass-work between the foyer and main prayer hall

Chandelier that hangs in the foyer leading into the main prayer hall

Dome above the chandelier in the foyer

15 different marbles make up these flowers chosen from around
the world in order to bring unity among the nations under 1 roof

Flowers start on the floor and grow up the walls, representing the
belief that Heaven is a garden 

The largest chandelier in the Mosque weighing
in at a staggering 9.5 Tons
 (I hear they need them
replaced DAD!)

Three of these giant chandeliers throughout
the main prayer room all of which can be
lowered by cable in order to clean

Largest dome in the center of the Grand Mosque

The scroll-work throughout was magnificent

The front wall was adorned with 99 flowers all representing
the attributes of Allah (The Holy, The Pure, The Perfect, etc.)

All women were required to wear an Abaya and
Shayla(head scarf) to enter the Mosque and all
shoes had to be removed before entering the main
prayer room.
The carpet under foot is the largest continuous
carpet in the world to date.  It took 1200 women
over two years to complete

All of the flowers in the Mosque have five petals
representing the five pillars of Islam.  These
were inlaid mother of pearl 

This is the corridor on the side of the Mosque where we exited
the main prayer hall

Gold palms at the top of each pillar outside

Drinking fountain in the hall

Cute kid... enough said.

This time smiling...

Hercules, Hercules...(solid marble)

Our tour of the Grand Mosque was truly stunning.  The intricate details and craftsmanship exhibited was amazing.  Our tour guide had a wonderful sense of humor and left us with a much better understanding of Islam than when we arrived.  The 1 hour tour (much shorter than Gilligan's) was one which I would recommend to anybody visiting the Middle East.  There are many other details that will need to be filled in when we go back again, hopefully with a much quieter Trevor!