Sailors aboard the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) took the opportunity to expand their cultural understanding during the Classic Dubai City Tour, May 14.

The tour included both historical and modern buildings, each unique in its own way.

Some of the buildings included the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest with more than 160 floors, and the grand Hotel Atlantis.

"These tours are definitely fun and worth going on," said Aviation Support Equipment Technician 2nd Class Christopher Phillips. "It was nice to see the city and experience a different culture. Dubai reminded me of a big metropolitan city, kind of like New York."

Later, Sailors traveled by boat to a marketplace that sold various local goods. Spices and vibrant colors filled the senses, and, in that moment, the multitude of nationalities living in Dubai became beautifully apparent.

"I like to take these tours so I can send my wife pictures of the places I've been," said Phillips. "It helps her understand and see what I'm doing."

A pleasant surprise came for Phillips during the tour when he visited the Seven Star Resort.

"I had seen them building this resort on a show called "Modern Marvels" many years ago," said Phillips. "I had no idea we would see it during the tour, but it was very interesting to actually be there in person."

Aviation Maintenance Administrationman 2nd Class Cassandra Rhodes also enjoyed the tour, commenting on the value of the experience.

"There were a lot of things I wouldn't have known to look for in Dubai had it not been for the tour," said Rhodes. "My favorite part was visiting the souq [or marketplace] because I really like to cook, and the spices there were cheaper."

Rhodes believes that Sailors can attain a lot of knowledge from events like the Classic Dubai City tour.

"I would definitely recommend the tour to anyone," said Rhodes. "It was a chance to experience entirely new cultures and learn about things that are out of the ordinary."

The George H.W. Bush Carrier Strike Group is conducting naval operations in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations in support of U.S. national security interests.

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