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

A Gleeful Guest

Heidi & I grew up around the corner from each other. She is one day younger than my sister, and our families are the kind of friends that we consider each other family. When she let us know that she would be visiting Qatar for a business trip, we were excited to have an opportunity to show her a taste of the country. She made the arrangements to stay with us rather than a hotel. So, it may not have been as fancy, but we were glad to take her to see a little but of Doha in between work. After she arrived, jet lagged and all, she was great sport in heading to Souq Waqif for some dinner. We went to Tagine (a Moroccan restaurant and only one we know that serves camel) and then saw some local color.
(lots of pictures of Souq Waqif sights at the end)

Leoni hanging out in the window well.

Chicken Pastilla (my favorite dish there--on appetizer menu)

Travis' Tagine
(best main I've had there-had plums & cinnamon)

Queenex--just an example of how much I loved having Heidi around, we were all busting up over the "Queenex" (say it aloud)

Outside the souqs

Fanar Building
[Islamic Cultural Center]

Heidi & the camels in the parking lot

Our little family & the camels

More camels

Tailor shops

Men smoking shisha

Various souveniers

Carved wood tables

The cradle of "creepy baby" that Leoni always has to see
under the mattress is a naked baby doll missing an eye and some limbs

Missionary literature


Agal (Arabic: عقال‎, ʿiqāl) Shop

Arabian drums (doumbek)


A view down one of the many alleys


Locals walking (and talking on cell phone)


Fabric store


Dusting shoe display


Donkey rides


A busy evening


The old pearl diver in his glory days


Lots of traffic on the main drag


Scary alligator head
(another must see for Leoni)


Wheelbarrows


Close to closing time


The crowds head home