Looking At The Louvre In Abu Dhabi

Leonardo in the desert. The museum is a massive, impressive destination, definitely an architectural signature piece for the UAE. It opened in 2017 and there's an agreement with the home office back in France that allows the place to use the Louvre name until 2037. Book now.

Architect Jean Nouvel designed the space as a series of white box buildings tucked under an enormous silver metal, mesh dome. Gotta protect the good stuff.

Inside, a romp through highlights of art history, western or otherwise. You got your big Roman head, and a fanciful Leonardo da Vinci original, popping in for a visit and some posing.

Sarah, soaking in the cutting edge design of the place. No swimming.

Back inside, more galleries, more art variety.

Another room, another da Vinci, this time, an homage of sorts. The Funeral of Mona Lisa by Yan Pei-Ming, 2008.

Murals Of Khon Kaen

In this Instagram world, there's no way you can be a decent tourist destination unless you have a handful of interesting backgrounds. Forget mountains, lakes and natural beauty, just slap up some fun murals. Paint it and the Instagrammers will come.

A whole lot of everything going on.

A building dedicated to tourist murals, something in each "window." Interactive is always a plus.

A side of a hotel, nice way to incorporate the landscape.

Next Marvel movie? Mona Lisa, always adaptable. She's holding a traditional Thai musical instrument, the khene, a mouth organ (a multi bamboo barreled flute).

The mural death match is on!