I arrive before the war, having no idea of what is about to transpire or how my days and life will change. These are my first impressions of Doha Qatar as life is happening under normal circumstances. The following posts over the next few days are the precious experiences I have had. And then I’ll write about the war.
Large!
The city is so much larger than I expected. But not in the usual way. Seeing it from the air as I did the day prior (see previous post), I now know just how spread out everything is. There is very little reason to build upwards as space is seemingly unlimited. Even though parts of the city are full of skyscrapers, there is much more that is humble, flat and sprawling.
To travel from one area to another, an excellent metro, tram and bus service guarantees you arrive in a timely and safe manner.
Quiet
Although not as quiet as Muscat, the capital of Oman, the city is remarkably gentle. There is vehicular honking, even though I believe it is at a minimum frowned upon, but its not overbearing at all. Besides the sounds of transportation, trucks and such, the city breathes in a quiet arid space.
Artificial
Definitely a noticeable level of artificial aesthetics here, as compared to where I have just arrived from. I see very little authentic historical structures remaining. An entire island called The Pearl, is man made and has a dozen residential districts. Expats can even purchase land freehold there.
If you remain in the touristy areas, Doha has been able to create a municipality that feels luxurious and classy, not at all tacky like some of its neighbours. There are huge green spaces, fresh soft bright lawns, flower beds and even outdoor areas that are completely cooled with air-conditioning.
Clean
Most areas where tourists are going to walk and want to see are impeccably clean. There are so many city labourers, constantly day and night, out maintaining and manicuring the city and its public spaces.
Walkable
Not something I was expecting but am surprised to find in Doha. I can comfortably walk 45 minutes to a grocery store and mall. Sidewalks are large and wide and well maintained. Streets are easy to cross at the lights and have medians to stop people from jaywalking. I am able to find shade from buildings and trees along the way.
I have a real curiosity about Doha. On one level it is not my vibe at all, but there is something so intriguing about the city that makes me really excited to explore all it has to offer. It’s definitely going to take a metro card to reach most of these places but that will be an experience in itself.
