Derek on the Corniche

This is the Corniche, which is the walking path around the Bay. Our appartment is located back about a block from the Corniche. You can see people walking here at all times, particularly in the evening when it is cooler. So far, there have been some lovely sea breezes and I am sure the as the heat becomes more intense, people will enjoy these breezes and the shade from the palm trees.

This is Souq Waqif. Part of this is like an old souq with people selling spices and all kinds of things. At one end of it are a number of restaurants where people are sitting outside in the warm evenings.

This is another of the new buildings near our appartment building. Such interesting shapes.

This is the Museum of Islamic Art. The architect is M.I. Pei, the person who designed the new part of the Louvre. He characteristically spends a lot of time studying the essence of the culture where he designs his building and brings together the old with the new. He was born in China and studied architecture in the U.S. during the time of modernism with influences of Gropius and Mies van der Rohe. This is a very imposing building, built on its own island. There is an avenue of palm trees leading up to the entrance, with water between and a fountain at the entrance. The ground floor is full of light from a large window. The exhibition rooms are dark and each piece of artwork seems to float in its case. Jean Michel Wilmotte designed the exhibition areas and it is truly stunning. The collection spans the area from Spain, central asia and India from the 7th to 19th century. with carpets, ceramics, calligraphy, metal work, textiles amongst other things. I really enjoyed my time there and will be back many times more, I am sure. The admission is free too, which ensures many more visits from me! However, next time I will not walk all the length of the Corniche there and back plus nearly three hours in the museum. I had blisters by the end of the day.