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| Dozens of varieties of dates to be found in the shops at the date market |
February 18, Sunday
Continuing our tour with Ute, in the afternoon we drove along the Corniche
and past Port Zayed to stop at the Fruit, Vegetable and Date market. Ute has a favorite shop for dates – we
saw dozens of varieties of dates, and sampled a few, including the Medjool,
chocolate covered dates and fresh dates which had just been imported from
Algeria – all sweet, and delicious.
We bought some date syrup and fresh dates to take with us.
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| Date varieties vary in their color, size, juiciness,and sweetness |
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| Fresh dates harvested from Algeria - it is said a person can live on 7 dates a day with camel milk |
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| Ute's favorite date shop at the market -- they let you sample many items |
Next, we headed over to Saadiyat Island to see the new Louvre Abu Dhabi, which has only been opened since November . So glad we stopped to see the museum – it was spectacular. It’s theme is “See Humanity in a New
Light.” The building highlights an
open air dome that is 4 layers of complicated geometric patterns overlapping
for interesting effects of light. The permanent exhibition is themed to show the cross
connections of humanity. The exhibition selects three
items from different cultures on a number of different themes – in representing family and motherhood, in making and decorating
ewers, tools, boxes for the afterlife - and the three items help to highlight our human connections across different cultures.
A number of famous western paintings are also on display – including a DaVinci and
the painting of Whistler’s Mother.
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| The Lourvre Abu Dhabi has a dome that is open to sea and sky |
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| Four layers of building materials allows for light to filter in, mimicking the effect of date palm fronds overhead |
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| The collection is great, but the architecture is the real star at this museum - walkway to entrance here |
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| Fountain of Light steel and glass sculpture by Chinese artist Ah Wei Wei |
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| More impressive architecture - the Capital Gate building by the exhibition center - leans 18 degrees! |
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| Etihad Towers and copper and glass Bab al Qsar hotel on the west Corniche road |
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