Aug. – Sept. 2014
MIAMI – DOHA
Doha has to be one of the most beautiful cities I have ever seen. It is quickly growing, so you see plenty of construction and the architecture is breathtaking. The vast majority of Qatar is desert, though it is a peninsula. I happened to go during the end of summer and the heat was intense. It reached an average of 105 F and the humidity was skyrocketing too!
We visited incredible places in Doha. There is a man-made island, that is relatively new, called The Pearl. Everything from buildings to light posts are clean and built with such intricate details. Some of the photos above are from a traditional market in Doha, called Souq. This market has hotels, amazing restaurants, and pet stores.
Katara is their local culture arts center. Another beautiful area of theirs, with a theater, art groups, and many restaurants. I didn’t get to visit a lot of malls, but The Villagio, is one heavenly design. It has all the high end designers, as well as plenty of my favorite stores, including a new favorite, Promode.
The food in Doha was absolutely, positively delicious. I probably ate hummus and tabbouleh everyday, but by far the yummiest I’ve ever had. I have always been a huge lover of lamb chops, and the ones I ate in Doha were perfect. There were an array of new rices, with plenty of spices, herbs, and even rose water. In Qatar, alcohol is only served at hotel bars, therefore most restaurants create their own mocktails and homemade juices (watermelon was my fave!).
One of my most incredible experiences was taking a day trip to the desert. Qatar desert has ocean coastline and it feels more like a beach day to me. It is very popular in Doha to go sand dune bashing. Think of it as the most exhilarating roller coaster ride! At high speeds you go up and down the sand dunes, with a side of drifting down the edge of the sand hill. It was awesome!!!
Overall, visiting Doha was one of the most enriching vacations of my life. Several people have asked me what my favorite part of Doha was and my best response was seeing the new culture. There was so much beauty in the people, food, and country itself. Doha is also one of the safest cities I have ever been. Contrary to popular belief, there is very little crime in Doha. Traveling to Qatar opened my eyes to the fact that despite what others may tell you about a particular culture or country, you will never know what it’s truly like until you experience it yourself. I recommend any of you to visit one day!
Some helpful packing tips:
- Unless you love extremely hot temperatures, try to plan your trip to Qatar outside of the summer months (June-September). Even the locals leave during these months or tend to stay indoors when the sun is up.
- Pack clothes that are sweat-friendly. In my opinion, the best fabrics are cotton or linen. Stay clear from silk and chiffon.
- It will be pointless to heat style your hair (thanks to the humidity), save yourself the weight in your luggage and leave all hot tools at home.
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