My main goal today is to visit the Louvre Abu Dhabi. After a bit of a sleep in, I head downstairs to check out the very generous breakfast offering the hotel has. There are multiple stations with all variety of food available. So I avail myself of a very hearty breakfast before heading out and catching a taxi to the Louvre.
Louvre Abu Dhabi
While I didn’t get a chance to visit during my first visit. The Louvre Abu Dhabi has been on my list for a very long time. I’m not a big art museum guy, but I do enjoy history museums and the Louvre houses a lot of it. However, the biggest draw for me is actually the architecture of the building itself. It is this beautiful white building set atop some very blue water. It’s main feature is the “crows nest” looking dome which offers an open air experience for museum goers under it. (More on that later). Upon arriving, the pictures really don’t do it justice! It’s very beautiful and picturesque. Even before going inside I recall spending a good chunk of my time simply walking around the perimeter admiring and photographing it!
Exhibits at the Louvre Abu Dhabi
After finally making my way inside and purchasing a ticket, I begin my exploration of the different exhibits. Sufficed to say, the Louvre is home to a very large collection of exhibits. It spans from ancient discoveries to modern day art. It also is home to collections from all corners of the world. The collection is extremely robust and I certainly would not be doing it justice by trying to describe it all either. Hopefully the photos will help tell some of the story of how varied and rich the collection is.
Letters of Light Exhibit
There is one exhibit I want to draw some attention to. It is the letters of light exhibit which highlights the sacred texts of monotheistic religions. Being someone that subscribes to the Christian faith, seeing some of the original manuscripts that contribute to the bible which I hold near and dear is pretty cool! Seeing them alongside the sacred books and manuscripts of Judaism and Islam is even cooler. In some ways seeing the similarities in the books themselves (not just the content but the construction) really underscores that at the end of the day we aren’t all that different. Being in a predominantly Islamic country and having this sort of display for all is also a pretty unique experience for me.
Under The “Dome”
Probably the most distinctive feature of the Louvre is the dome that covers multiple buildings in the Louvre complex. It’s a bit of an architectural marvel and probably the main reason visiting the Louvre is at the top of my list. Underneath, it creates this open air feeling as you wander around the outdoor exhibits or even between buildings. Depending on the time of day, the sun will pop in through different “cracks” in the dome to create a bit of a “rain of light”. It certainly makes hanging out under the dome a very very enjoyable experience!
Michelin Guide Food Festival
After spending the better part of my day at the Louvre, I regrettably decide its time to leave. Completely unbeknownst to me, right across from the Louvre is the Michelin Guide Food Festival. This is an outdoor festival set up by the Michelin Guide that features many of the Michelin recognized restaurants in Abu Dhabi. I didn’t plan on visiting since it wasn’t even on my radar. However, after checking it out a little I decide to buy a ticket and check out a few of the stalls. It is a very pricey affair, but how often do you get so many renowned cuisines in one place? Plus the overall vibe of the festival is certainly well worth spending my time at. I spend the afternoon munching on some very tasty offerings while enjoying the fresh air and live music!
After maybe a little “too much” Arabian sun, I decide to head back to my hotel to rest in the late afternoon. Being back on Yas Island, and with qualifying still ongoing for the Gulf 12, I’m happy to just relax a little and recoup a bit of energy.
Cheesecake Factory
I may or may not catch a little flak for this, but on my visit to Yas Mall yesterday, I clocked a very familiar eatery: Cheesecake Factory. And throughout the past two days, its been on my mind as a possible spot for a meal. It’s no Michelin star restaurant, nor is it some exotic Arabian cuisine. But it represents some comfort food for me and so after a bit of a rest back at my hotel, I hop on a shuttle and head over! It’s not long before the familiar scents and flavours of their Pasta Da Vinci is in front of me! It satisfies a craving and hits the spot!
I spend a little extra time wandering the mall (maybe walking some of the pasta off out of guilt) before getting back on the shuttle bound for my hotel. Unfortunately, I’m leaving tomorrow and making my way back home. So I do a little packing and spend the rest of the evening enjoying my room and chilling out reminiscing on the great adventure I’ve had over the past two days here in Abu Dhabi.
This is such a gorgeous museum!!