Qatar National Day

Happy National Day!

We're not in Kansas anyone more

On the way to the fabric souqs today, I saw this outside the Amiri Diwan (essentially the main government building where the Emir's office is located).

Luckily, I had to stop at a light and had time to bust out my camera and take a shot through the window of my car.

Bonus Day With Heidi

Due to the political unrest in Oman, that portion of Heidi's trip was cancelled, so she was able to stay an extra day in Doha. We loved that because we had a chance to spend a little more time. We went back to Souq Waqif during the day, which is full of very different sights than night. Here are some of the things we saw.

Chasing pigeons

Souq animals

Including suicidal turtles

And technicolor chicks

Man with Wheelbarrow

A view of a corridor

Al Qudsi--Sweets Shop

Fresh Arab Sweets

Various Spices

Woman shopping

More spices

Spices, dry ingredients

Dry ingredients (rose hips, dried lemons, chickpeas, etc.)

Textiles (some from camel hair)

Man in thobe on cell phone

Dunkin' Donuts & Baskin Robbin

Two men greeting each other

Outside the Mosque

Arab Instruments

Heidi bought a tambourine from the instrument shop

Local men in an outdoor cafe

The cobbler corridor

Wheelbarrows

Traffic police

Heidi checking out saffron in a shop

Prayer beads

Posing

Waiting outside a rug store

Headed home

We were so glad Heidi came to visit us

Camel Racing Track Visit

We took Heidi out to one of my favorite places, the camel racing track. Although it was not a race day, we again were able to watch training, which I love because you can stand right next to the track and there are always camels out. Here are some of the sights we saw.

Approaching the camel track

Signs to watch for camels

Start seeing lots of camels on their way to and from the track

Camel crossing

More crossing

Here is the building at the track. The stands are on the opposite side.

A view down the track with camels in the distance
The sign says 100, for 100km/hr speed limit for cars driving on the road beside the track

Camels with handler/trainer

Robot jockeys for sale

Checking the jockeys

Potential buyer--they bought two

Leoni checking out the jockeys

More camels

Doing the "camel dance"