Wednesday – January 31, 2018
After a yummy fresh breakfast in the Santa Monica Breakfast Club, we had a welcome briefing with all 24 Vantage Tour participants. Then we all went out for a “panoramic tour” of Doha. The coach drove us to the historic district of Msheireb and we stopped for a quick visit to see the historic museum.
We saw an excellent film about the history of Qatar and the development of the economy from pearl diving to the discovery of oil and natural gas. It was a good introduction to this region of the world.
Afterwards, we went to the Falcon Souq to see the shops where Qataris buy their hunting birds. Falconry is a very popular sport among wealthy Qatari citizens who pay upwards of $25,000 for each falcon.
Across the street was the famous Souq Waqif which has been a marketplace for Bedouin nomads for centuries.
Qatari citizens drive white Toyotas, BMWs, or Mercedes SUVs around the city. Unlike some other Arabian countries, Qatari women are allowed to drive, however many have chauffeurs.
We had a delicious Middle Eastern/Syrian lunch in a restaurant called Damaskas One which was located on the street behind the Souq. We also had some time to explore inside the Souq and the numerous shops outside.
We passed the prominent landmark building of the Abdullah Bin Zaid al Mahmoud Islamic Cultural Center. The center’s most distinguished feature is its mosque which has a unique circular minaret.
The next place we visited was the Museum of Islamic Art, which was designed by IM Pei. The building stands out as an architectural gem. It was built on a man-made island at one end of the Corniche and is surrounded by the extensive landscaped lawns and ornamental trees of MIA Park.
The collection is spread over three floors and the museum houses the largest collection of Islamic art in the world. The building is a feast for the eyes and the artworks are fantastic.
After several hours at the museum, we returned to the Grand Hyatt to relax. Later, we had a delicious three-course dinner in the Italian restaurant at the hotel. It was a fun evening and a good welcome to Qatar.
