ABU DHABI // A group of small blue visitors descended on Abu Dhabi's Ferrari World yesterday.
The Smurfs, cartoon favourites from the 1980s and now enjoying a global renaissance, have been staying in the capital at the world's first real-life Smurf Village since the start of the month.
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But their visit to the theme park was not all play, said Sultan Al Muhairi, the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority's co-ordinator for Summer in Abu Dhabi.
"They took the chance to go to the visitor information desk where they gave out leaflets" promoting the emirate, Mr Al Muhairi said. The Smurfs tried the rides at the theme park, including G-Force, which launched its unsuspecting passengers 62 metres into the air, he said.
They were joined by Swampfire and Water Hazard, characters from the children's television show Ben 10, who are also in town for Summer in Abu Dhabi.
"Each character has their own behaviour," said Mr Al Muhairi. "The grumpy Smurf - who always has that mad eyebrow - he's a little bit on the unfriendly side. But yes, they always behave."
The group taken to Ferrari World was made up of Hefty, Classic, Smurfette, Grouchy and Papa Smurf.
The Smurfs were unavailable for comment because, as Mr Al Muhairi said: "They don't speak."
