A Big Leap into the World of the Middle East; Qatar
Is there an explanation as to why Qatar is pronounced “cutter?” It clearly spells out Q.A.T.A.R! This unusual country created so many thoughts in my mind. Air that I have never smelled; material that I have never touched, people that I have never seen, animals that I have never heard, and food that I have never tasted; all of this came together in one small city. The way that somewhere can be so different from what you are used to truly amazes me.
The Katara amphitheater – “The mini colosseum” as I like to call it – is a gorgeous circular structure located in the cultural village of Katara. Lying within its walls are multitudes of mysteries and lots of history. This vast building has the potential to hold up to 5,000 spectators and is made in a unique, yet traditional way. It’s architecture is inspired by Greek architecture, but also contains traditional Arabic elements. This building had spectacular views of the city and stunning pieces of ancient history. The crisp and quiet air was amazingly refreshing. We only got to spend a few minutes here, but it was just enough time to take in its full beauty.
Yet another remarkable sight to behold in the city are the Katara Pigeon Towers. These giant birdhouses are not just for show or for keeping the birds to eat, as was common in Islam, but these birdhouses are actually used to aid in agriculture. These buildings follow an old way of farming, dating back several thousands of years. Pigeons were harvested and housed in these structures for their droppings, which was then made into a fertilizer for farming. The Valley of Cultures was something that will not soon be forgotten.
After the Katara cultural center, our tour bus drove though the downtown area and eventually ended up at a huge marketplace. Our bus stopped and off into Doha we went. The rest of the passengers looked at us with wondering eyes, but if we worried about what everybody else thought of us, we wouldn’t see even half of the things that we get to see. There, right before my eyes, laid a city – a fascinating and marvelous city. So many new things and all in one place! ‘This, this is what I travel for – the suspense and adventure.’ I thought to myself. Off in the distance, I see one of the coolest streets that I have ever seen, and excitement began to boil inside of me. Being the only travelers with a visa that had the privilege to spend the night, I was feeling pretty lucky for getting to see more of the world.
Just walking through the marketplace brought out the feeling of adventure and curiosity. All sorts of dazzling ornaments and vibrant clothes filled this remarkable street. Simply walking through the marketplace was like being in a “whole new world” full of wonders. Although this was a miraculous experience, hunger was completely taking over. However, the restaurant that we chose to eat at had the overwhelming smell of Hookah smoke, so I “assume” that the food tasted good, but who could tell? Continuing down the street, I, of course, I got hungry again after about 5 minutes, so we stopped at an odd ice cream stand. Well, that guy would just not give me my ice cream! He kept tricking me with a stick into thinking that he would give it to me, and finally, he actually did. The ice cream was really great, but it was a Turkish ice cream, so it was almost like a paste. Every time that I would bite into it, the ice cream would stick to my teeth!
Bringing me far out of my comfort zone, Qatar definitely made an impact on me. I will admit, at first glance, I wasn’t so sure that I actually wanted to get out of the bus, but guess what? Risks are what make life interesting. When you forget your fears and let loose, there is something that is worth looking at; a magnificent and sensational world that your eyes will never forget seeing. They might say that curiosity kills the cat, but that is probably one of the most misused statements that I have ever heard.