Abu Dhabi: The Louvre That Floats

90 minutes on the E11. Louvre Abu Dhabi on Saadiyat Island — Jean Nouvel designed a dome of 7,850 aluminum stars filtering desert sun into "rain of light" dappled patterns moving across galleries and surrounding water. A building designed by the weather.

12,000 years, every civilization, arranged chronologically refusing to separate cultures by geography. Chinese Buddha beside Christian Madonna beside Hindu Shiva, and the conversation between them is the thesis. The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque twenty minutes away is free — white marble, gold calligraphy, world's largest hand-knotted carpet. Budget a full day for both.