Once the heat of the sun has dissipated a little, head back for a stroll of the Bateen shipyard (open daily except Friday), close to the Intercontinental hotel, where traditional teak dhows are still assembled, and techniques date back centuries, though dhows for racing or pleasure are today more common than the trading boats of the past.
When you've made it back to terra firma stroll east along the river, past the Royal Festival Hall and the uncompromisingly brutalist National Theatre, navigating the crowds that cluster around the street entertainers.