The next stop on the Big Bus tour was Dubai Museum, it was the middle of the day when the sun was at its hottest and my 70 year old mum was flagging ( she is a sprightly 70 year old so was a tossup as to who was feeling worse) . Neither of us in the mood for a cultural blast to the senses but rather looking for the nearest ice cream parlour (not one in sight).
After getting our ticket to enter the Museum we ventured in.
The museum itself was interesting from the start as it is housed inside what we learned is Al Fahidi Fort which 
was built around 1787, and once guarded the landward approaches to the town. It was amazing to be in what is thought to be the city’s oldest building, which was both the residence of Dubai’s rulers and the seat of government until becoming a museum in 1971.
To trace the history of everyday life pre oil days was fascinating and the use of life-size figures and sound and lighting effects, to depict this meant that we were both kept interested.
Also of interest were the galleries showing scenes from the Creek, traditional Arab houses, mosques, the souk, date gardens, desert and marine life. One of the most interesting exhibits we agreed portrayed the underwater world of pearl-diving, and to see the basic tools that the pearl merchants’ used in their profession weights , scales and sieves.
Invigorated we next visited the military museum which displays a collection of ancient history artifacts made of copper, alabaster and pottery found in graves up to 4,000 years. Once you’ve seem one artifact (well bits of them) you’ve seen them all and it was time to leave.
All in all one of the more interesting stops on the Big Bus Tour and you can get an appreciation of how much oil has played a part in shaping the UAE.
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