Qatar: Contrasts, Ramadan Experiences

The first leg of our “Around the world in 40 days” trip took us from our home in Costa Rica through Miami then on an over 14 hour flight to Doha, Qatar, arriving around six in the evening. The city was still aglow with the lights and sounds of the recently ended World Cup, and also our discovery that we had arrived after sunset during Ramadan to the almost Christmas market-like evenings . For the next 30 hours from our base in the Souq Waqif , the ancient traditional market area of Doha, we experienced a land of extreme contrasts, from ancient traditions to modern skylines. Camels slept next to skyscrapers, burka clad women shopped in jewelry stores. We learned about living and experiencing Ramadan, even the tradition of the Iftar cannon. We visited beautiful museums, had amazing vegetarian meals, got to sail in a traditional Dhow, and almost got arrested while birding. Enjoy the first part of the “Around the World in 40 Days” Video series .

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