Day 11 (July 21, 2022):

Our Qatar Airways Airbus A-320 left Baku right on time at 3:25 AM.  It was a smooth 2.5 hour flight to Doha, Qatar, arriving just after 5 AM.  When we deplaned at a remote stand, the air was so hot and humid, it felt like walking into an oven as we climbed down the steps to the bus waiting to take us to the terminal building.  Customs, baggage, the search for a Qatari SIM card, and Qatari Rials (the national currency) all took a full hour.  The hotel sent a text to say we could check in as early as 7AM, which was welcome news.  We got an Uber within minutes and were off to the Four Points Sheraton Hotel in Msheireb.

It was 8AM when we finally got to bed.  We slept til noon, had a wonderful lunch of Middle Eastern dips and snacks for lunch, and finally took a deep breath and set out in that hot, humid air just after 3PM.

We decided there was no way that, with the heat and humidity, we were going to traipse around Doha as we had the other cities on this trip.  Rather, we decided to keep it simple and focus on a few key sights.

We explored the shiny new metro system, visited the National Library, took in the Mall of Qatar, and then headed to the famous souqs (markets) of Doha for the evening.

By the time we got back to the hotel room at 9:30PM, we were quite webbed and ordered room service.

Tomorrow is the holy day here, so things will be closed until mid-afternoon.  Even the metro system doesn’t start operating until 2PM on Fridays, to respect the Islamic holy day.

Qatar Airways Airbus A-320 from Baku to Doha.  A 3:25 AM departure is simply hard on the body!

The Four Points by Sheraton Doha, where we are staying.  The hotel kindly let us check in at 7AM!


Everything in Doha is being built and polished in anticipation of the November-December FIFA World Cup, which will place Qatar under the world’s magnifying glass.  Nowhere is that effort to “get ready” more evident than the shiny new metro system, which has three lines.  Chic metro attendants roam the stations in great numbers, always willing to guide and help.  


The metro system even has a special Gold Class, with separate cars and airplane-style seats.

This is the “economy class” section of the metro!  Not too shabby, even for economy!  A ticket to ride all day costs just 6 QAR, which is just over $2 CAD.


Pam, taking her turn running the metro train!

David outside the National Library metro station.  No expense has been spared in the building of the metro!


This is the National Library of Qatar, opened in 2018.  It resembles a space-ship.


And if the National Library resembles a spaceship, then this is like the classic scene in a sci-fi movie, where a UFO drops a ramp, and scoops up terrified Earthlings into the mother ship!

There are over two million volumes in the National Library.  


These hanging bubble chairs would make the perfect spot to read a book.


A maze-like subterranean area houses ancient Arabic manuscripts and editions of the Quran.


After the National Library, it was off to the Mall of Qatar, to experience a typical, opulent Qatari shopping mall.

Clockwise from the top left:  under those bland coverings, Qatari women dress with style;  dish dash-clad men roam the malls in packs;  look at all those shisha Hookah pipes waiting to be smoked in a cafe at the Mall;  and Islamic coverings don’t have to be drab — take these designer options, for example!


The entrance area to the famous Souq Waqif.  

Falcon Souq:

The falcon is the national bird of Qatar.  Falconry has been around these parts for thousands of years, as the nomadic beadouins used them to hunt to supplement their diets with meat.  In one part of Souq Waqif, merchants deal in falcons and accessories used in falconry, such as the leather caps which are placed over the falcons to keep them from seeing.  In shop after shop, falcons sit and stare.  

Gold Souq:

The Gold Souq is another amazing part of Souq Waqif.   Mostly 21K gold, the gold pieces are astounding.  The eleborate necklace in the top left photo can go for upwards of 75,000 QAR ($30,000 CAD).  A wonderful chat with a young Tunisian man, running a shop in the Gold Souq informed us that such ornate pieces are often presented as a dowry to a new bride.

This gold thumb reminds the shopper that one is in Gold Souq territory!

Various other scenes from Souq Waqif:

Blankets for sale.

Tropical birds, rabbits, tortoises, cats, dogs - they are all kept in cages, despite the horrendous heat.


This Souq vendor specializes in sabres.  There is something for everyone at Soup Waqif.

Now THAT is what I call a coffee pot!



Need a dishdash?  These guys in Souq Waqif will custom-make you one!

General Souq Waqif scenes.




Arabian horses:

Another part of Souq Waqif deals in Arabian horses.  These are the stables and trotting grounds.


Scene from the stables of the Arabian horses.


Arabian horses in the stables of the Souq Waqif.

 

Minaret of the Abdullah Bin Zaid Al Mahmoud Islamic Cultural Center.

Amiri Diwan is the parliament building for the state of Qatar.  45 parliamentary members have seats here — 30 of which are elected by the citizenry and 15 of which are chosen by the Ameer of Qatar. The minaret to the left in the photo belongs to the adjacent Al Shouyoukh Mosque.