For the first (and realistically also the last) time in years Husband and I were given the opportunity to spend a two nights without the children. We decided to make the most of it and visit Qatar.
I usually prefer to avoid taking a plane if possible, so we opted to split the six hour drive from Riyadh to our hotel in the centre of Doha between us. After dropping our older toddler off in school we set off on our journey. The roadtrip was a fun way to reconnect and relaxed us both as it's a pretty straightforward drive through the desert all the way to the border. Crossing the border into Qatar wasn't difficult but it wasn't well signposted either so we had to scramble a little bit to find our way and jump through the hoops of obtaining a visa on arrival, making sure our car is insured and get through customs and the final checks. Overall it didn't take longer than an hour as thankfully there weren't many other cars or lorries crossing at the time. Once in Qatar, we were surprised by how orderly the driving style of the locals is, compared to what we're used to around here. The roads are well signposted and people actually adhere to speed limits if you can believe it!
We opted to stay at the Mondrian in Central Doha, close to all the famous sights of the city. Our room was just fine but the staff went above and beyond to make our stay comfortable. Overall it provided a good base to discover the city from at a fairly decent price in comparison to the bigger chains. We also had a nice view. As tired parents, we were hoping to have two great nights of sleep but the outdoor lounge downstairs was blasting music in the weekend. It fortunately stopped at 11pm though, but then our neighbours managed to lock themselves out of their room and even after we alerted front desk and they were let back inside, the four rowdy, screaming children kept us up until the wee hours of the morning. Oh well, just our luck I guess....
On our first evening we decided to admire the gorgeous Parisienne inspired architecture of Place Vendôme and have a stroll around the mall before heading out to the vibrant Al Maha Island for dinner at Zuma. We enjoyed a fabulous contemporary Japanese meal, beautifully presented sashimi and sushi, very well prepared black cod and refreshing cocktails. Bevare, alcohol, although available, is very expensive compared to Europe. After dinner we took a lovely, leasurely stroll by the water, taking in the views of all the lit up skyscrapers and shaking our heads at the extravagance of the luxury sports cars driving past. It was a really fun night and I hope we can repeat it someday.
The next morning we woke up early so decided to go for a walk on the Corniche and discover the beautiful Katara Cultural Village. Walking around Galeries Lafayette made me feel like I was in Paris on a hot Summer day (with much less litter on the streets). We also looked at the Amphitheatre and the striking Gold Masjid before heading for an early lunch to Kamachi restaurant, which is tucked away behind the pigeon towers and the beutifully adorned Katara Mosque.
We enjoyed a really delicious and filling meal of traditional sweet and savory balaleet, a fragrant and tasty Pakistani egg, chickpea and potato dish called nikhy basheet, freshly baked delicious flatbread, fresh yoghurt and honey and a good cup of karak tea.
In the afternoon we went to visit the National Museum of Qatar famed for its iconic main building in the shape of a desert rose. We were pleased to discover that they are currently hosting a contemporary art installation by Pippilotti Rist and a temporary Oceanic Art Exhibition from the MET until January 15th, in addition to their permanent exhibit showcasing the unique geography and history of the country and the region. The museum is also child friendly so we saved it as a top destination to go to with the kids if we're ever in Qatar again.
We didn't have time to see Dan Flavin & Donald Judd at QM Gallery – Al Riwaq or the Museum of Islamic Arts because I had previously booked luxurious pregnancy treatments at the hotel's gorgeous spa.
As amazing as our day was, the ESPA Spa quickly turned into another highlight for me and it's definitely worth indulging in one of their treatments when in Doha.
Our last morning fell on a Friday when usually everything is closed. Not wanting to leave without having a glimpse at The Pearl Island we decided to drive around it for a little bit to see what it looks like. Even from the car it didn't disappoint - it's green, beautiful, with a fun Venetian architecture in its Qanat Quarter. Another place to revisit when/if we are lucky enough to return! Our drive back was similarly smooth, and it felt great to be greeted so warmly by the Saudi border patrols. We felt right at home when immediately after entering Riyadh we were caught in a traffic jam due to four cars having collided earlier.... Overall, this short trip really helped with my homesickness by breaking up our daily routine and having time for just ourselves as a couple before we welcome the new Baby in January.
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