Two months here, and not once did we go up on the roof. We had seen it for a few seconds when first looking at the place, back in November. But we had not checked it out again.

We knew a pool was up there — we saw it — but we just didn’t get back. The gym also is Up on the Roof (the Carole King song from half a century ago, made popular by The Drifters), but to access the pool from the gym requires a special pass card we never remember to bring with us, when we are going to get some exercise.

Not until some friends of ours moved into the building and one of them suggested we go up to see the sunset today… did we appreciate what is up there.

The pop song suggests peace and serenity can be found up on the roof, and there was some of that.

But even more impressive were the views in every direction. The Gulf north and south, the Sheikh Zayed Mosque to the east and the downtown Abu Dhabi skyline to the west which, on this occasion was slowing being obscured by creeping fog — much like San Francisco might be.

More immediate, we saw the pool, which is not big, but bigger than I had recalled, and quite warm. Good for short laps. What I did not recall was the jacuzzi off in one corner. And the half-dozen plastic lounge chairs.

And not a soul up there, aside from the three of us.

The wind was cool up there, but not cold, and after taking photos of the sights in each direction, we set up the lounge chairs so we could watch the sunset, over in the direction of Saudi Arabia.

The sun turned orange as it sank, and then it disappeared into the edge of the fog bank, and a few minutes later, the sunset-timed call to prayer could be heard wafting from the dozens of minarets we could see from the 19th floor.

Up on the Roof. Got a lot going for it, here in Abu Dhabi as well as back in Carole King’s New York.