Not a lot of text today, just some photos from our visit to the Souk and its environs with a few comments here and there.
We started the day off at around 11:30 by meeting Lauren and Randy at the souk and before long wound up at the pet section of the old market.
The animals are not kept in the best conditions, and many seemed listless and tired. There is also something about hundreds of birds in cages that is pretty depressing. But this gorgeous pair was lively and alert and interested in what I was doing. We decided not to set all the animals free; given that this would likely have been written up by the local authorities as stealing, and that we were all attached to our hands, I still think we had the right choice.
The interior of the market is quite colorful.
I’ve still not seen a dog (other than a few for sale in the market), but these feral cats are everywhere.
Lunch was delicious.
The Turkish coffee, too.
This wild feline would not go away, and eventually the patron dropped a large piece of fish. Patience rewarded!
Another example of product localization.
More camels!
Throughout the market older gentlemen push wheelbarrows down the narrow aisles, and I think they are there to deliver stuff either to shops or perhaps to help shoppers to their cars with heavier items. I don’t think I ever saw anyone with a laden wheelbarrow, but there were loads available if needed, and wheelbarrows lined up everywhere we looked.
As if the invasion of American “culture” wasn’t troublesome enough with a KFC and Burger King on every other corner, Sponge Bob has utterly captured the local fancy for things western if one may judge by his ubiquitous presence in the souk.
When we left the souk and walked back to the hotel, we passed this Range Rover. The paint job is amazing, swirled red and black. Just might try to have this done on the truck when I get home. Kinda like those rims, too, if I can find mud and snow tires to fit.
Finally found some of Doha’s interesting architecture that wasn’t covered with sand and dust, so had to take a picture because the reflection behind the ornament was so cool.
These joined swords in fists arch over the main drag in the center of the city.
This guy really got to me, how he dressed his donkey up so beautifully to take him out for rides. The animal was clearly lovingly cared for, and this gave me a bit of hope for all those creatures back in the pet section of the market.
