Day 4 – Sunday 17 December

Another slow start, I slept in, I think I have now adjusted to the time zone difference.  This morning we are off to see the Abu Dhabi Louvre, a partnership with the Louvre Museum in Paris.  First impression of the large dome roof is stunning, the architects have really done a great job.  We arrive only 15 minutes after the Louvre opens & plenty of close parking & not many people.  The museum is not crowded & they have a small number of quality examples of culture & art from the Asian, Indian, Arabian & Mediterranean cultures, with some examples from the Incan & Mexican.  It is very well laid out with examples from the same time period from different cultures side by side to show how these cultures were progressing equally.  An interesting exhibition is on mapping, exploration & celestial navigation.  There is a large globe of the world on display from Venice, Italy made in 1697 with Australia about three quarters mapped.  Also on display is a painting by Leonardo da Vinci, bought recently by the Abu Dhabi Louvre for US$450 million. The modern art on display didn’t impress all of us & some of us walked quickly past it.  Outside we marvelled at the intricate 7 layered open air dome roof filtering light through.  The Louvre is built with water surrounding on 3 sides & the water theme has been integrated very well externally, bringing the water vista into the museum.

Next was a drive into the main part of Abu Dhabi city centre & again marvelling at the amazing architecture of the large buildings.  We stop at another mall for lunch, eating at a traditional Arab restaurant & feasting on local food, a new taste sensation.  Again we eat more than we should, it really is delicious.  We can see the Sheik’s Palace from our dining window & after lunch we go for a drive up to the gates of the palace, a truly impressive & elaborate group of buildings.  The Sheik has his equally impressive motor yacht moored nearby. More impressive buildings on the drive back home.  Again it is very good to take the shoes off & relax after another big day.

The weather is warm with a cool wind.  The days always have a haze.  We are truly impressed with this country’s achievements, their architecture is amazing.