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

Iraqi Bread

We like to pick up fresh Iraqi bread at Souq Waqif. It costs 1QR (about 25 cents) for 5 pieces. My favorite is eating it when it is still warm, and I love watching it being made.

They take balls of dough and throw them a little like pizza dough, but then they lay it on a big round pillow like form to place it in the oven, which is actually a converted cement mixer.

It is pressed onto the sides of the oven, where it sticks

It is prodded and pulled out by a long metal rod

They always have people waiting for fresh bread

Most people order large stacks of the bread

Nice and fresh

Waiting patiently for her hot bread

Enjoying some bread

Awkward

A common sight in the Middle East

Iraqi food

We ate at a recommended Iraqi restaurant when my parents visited. The restaurant, Al Adhamiyah, is at Souq Waqif and was delicious. The service was very good and we were alone in one of the upper dining rooms during the lunch hour.

Tabboulah, Baba Ganoush, & fresh Iraqi bread

My parents enjoying the atmosphere & Iraqi bread

Checking out some of the restaurant decor

Some of the tasty food. Check out Travis' Cashew cocktail. It was more like a shake, and it was delicious.