Architect Jean Nouvel designed the impressive and beautiful Louvre Abu Dhabi
Until recently I thought of Abu Dhabi as a city one connects through when flights through Dubai aren’t available. But that view was challenged during my latest visit to the UAE. I was surprised by how many people suggested visiting the Louvre Abu Dhabi, a world class museum which opened in 2017 as part of a thirty-year deal between the city of Abu Dhabi and the French government.
The roadside Prada, Marfa store
The tiny, artsy desert enclave of Marfa, Texas has been on my radar for a few years. Unfortunately it’s West Texas location- about a three hour drive from El Paso and sixty miles from the Mexican border- means an opportunity for a quick visit has never presented itself.
A furry creature in Meow Wolf’s House of Eternal Return
Santa Fe, New Mexico is one of my favorite small town destinations for a weekend getaway. The city has a rich culture, good restaurants, a great art scene and tons of culture to check out. But during my last visit, I felt like I hadn’t discovered anything that felt fresh or new in Santa Fe for a long time. Then I went to the arts collective Meow Wolf.
Giant inflatable santa on the roof of this year’s RoboLights display
If you are going to be in Southern California during the holidays and are looking for an outside-the-box holiday experience, consider heading to Palm Springs to see artist Kenny Irwin Jr’s 32nd year of RoboLights, an upcycled holiday lights display unlike any other.
Some people call this “the Papal Gardens.” I like to think of it as “the Pope’s Versailles.”
I recently returned from a trip to Italy. Most of my time was spent exploring the wine regions of Tuscany, but I did end the trip with a two day stop in Rome. While I’ve been to Rome multiple times, this was the first time I visited the Giardini Vaticani, or the Pope’s Gardens. These gardens are also sometimes known as the Giardini Barberini.
