Travelling with Gershom

I didn't realise that Abu Dhabi is basically on an island. At last, the city of Abu Dhabi is on an island. The Emirate, the largest of the United Arab Emirates, is composed of a large mainland portion and a number of islands in the Arabian Gulf. Incredible plans are in place for one of these islands. Saadiyat lsland will be home to 150,000 people as well as an incredible tourism destination. A quick look at the cultural district shows why. Of the five amazing facilities planned for this area of the island, three stand out in my opinion due to their focus, their pedigree, and their design: The Louvre Abu Dhabi will include both permanent and visiting collections, and its design incorporates light and shadow via a canopy that allows sunshine through. The Frank Gehry-designed Guggenheim Museum certainly continues in the Gehry tradition (and surpasses the Guggenheim in Bilbao). To be situated at a point on the island, jutting out into the water, this will be a striking landmark. Fina...

Or in this case, along the Corniche in Abu Dhabi. Here on a quick business trip, Brian Cull and I were invited by two fellow Newfoundlanders - Bob Richards and Brian Colbourne of CERT - to come along for an evening sail on Monday. It was a lovely cruise, with great conversation and company. About 30 of us were aboard the Shuja Yacht, a little tired but still lovely vessel about 50 feet in length. The lower deck was set for dining, while the upper held an enclosed bar as well as an open area on the stern with some seating and beautiful view of the city. The respective corniches (if that is a word) of Abu Dhabi and Doha are strikingly different. I counted only two cranes here; along a much shorter stretch in Doha one easily sees a dozen or more. In contrast to the frenetic pace of construction in Doha, with its clamour and dust, we floated along serenely, as the lights of office towers, street lamps, and headlamps twinkled in the background. Although it may seem strange, the Corniche sky...