Anything to see and do in Doha?

It seems Etihad has cheap flights to Asia. Would it make sense to do a
let's say two day stopover in Doha? Is there anything to do or see
there?
--

Alfred Molon
http://www.molon.de - Photos of Asia, Africa and Europe

"Alfred Molon" wondered...
It seems Etihad has cheap flights to Asia. Would it make sense to do a
let's say two day stopover in Doha? Is there anything to do or see
there?

Alfred,
my sole experience of Doha is a 16 hour stop when my return flight from LoS
was delayed there - Perhaps our hotel was in the wrong part of town, but I
couldn't make up my mind whether the streets were simply unfinished or had
crumbled, and the overwhelming scent of fumes from the oil facilities was
sufficient to make me determined never to be stranded there again . . . . .
The people I met when I ventured outside the hotel, however, were welcoming,
friendly, and as nice as those I have met anywhere.

Perhaps others will say differently, but that was my perception.

_______
Geoff B

On Thu, 7 Feb 2008 21:50:22 +0100, Alfred Molon
wrote:

It seems Etihad has cheap flights to Asia. Would it make sense to do a
let's say two day stopover in Doha? Is there anything to do or see
there?

A stopover on Etihad from Europe to Asia would be in Abu Dhabi

"Geoff B" wrote in message
...
"Alfred Molon" wondered...
It seems Etihad has cheap flights to Asia. Would it make sense to do a
let's say two day stopover in Doha? Is there anything to do or see
there?

Alfred,
my sole experience of Doha is a 16 hour stop when my return flight from
LoS was delayed there - Perhaps our hotel was in the wrong part of town,
but I couldn't make up my mind whether the streets were simply unfinished
or had crumbled, and the overwhelming scent of fumes from the oil
facilities was sufficient to make me determined never to be stranded there
again . . . . .
The people I met when I ventured outside the hotel, however, were
welcoming, friendly, and as nice as those I have met anywhere.

Perhaps others will say differently, but that was my perception.


I've been in Doha several times over the past five years. It's far from my
favourite MIddle East city and you have to learn to appreciate construction
sites. There's a new Islamic Art Museum which is supposed to be spectacular
but it has just opened. The Corniche is pleasant enough, though I think Palm
Island is closed for redevelopment. There is always the inevitable
dune-bashing, which operates just outside the city. As in Dubai, nightlife
is limited to hotel bars and restaurants and roaming the luxury shopping
malls. I can recommend an excellent Syran restaurant outsde that expat
circle.

There are not enough taxis, and I've waited as long as an hour to have one
arrive.

Cheers,
George W Russell
Bangalore

In article , says...

A stopover on Etihad from Europe to Asia would be in Abu Dhabi

Yes, you are right. Is it worthwhile to stop two days in Abu Dhabi and
what can you do and see there?
--

Alfred Molon
http://www.molon.de - Photos of Asia, Africa and Europe

"Henry" wrote in message
.. .
Alfred Molon wrote:

It seems Etihad has cheap flights to Asia. Would it make sense to do a
let's say two day stopover in Doha? Is there anything to do or see
there?

When we were last there, Doha had a thriving expat Am-Dram society, with
their own very nice playhouse and everything. They were hit by a bombing
about two or three years ago but I expect that they are back to normal
by now -- 'the show must go on', and all that. If your visit coincides
with one of their productions, you should by all means try to see the
performance. Always great fun.


I'm sure they try hard, but when a city's attractions include the local
expatriate amateur dramatics anywhere near the top 100, you have a tourism
industry with institutional problems.

Cheers,
George W Russell
Bangalore

"Henry" wrote in message
...
grusl wrote:

when a city's attractions include the local
expatriate amateur dramatics anywhere near the top 100, you have a
tourism
industry with institutional problems.

Top 100? You must be jokin'. This is Doha, Qatar we're talking about
here. Where they roll up the streets at 2100 (except, of course, in
Ramadan). Almost as Wahhabi as the Saudis. Top _10_ 'attractions' would
be pushing your luck.


It's liberalised a bit over the past few years in terms of places to go at
night but basically you're correct. I now notice Qataris in full dress
drinking beer in the dark in the outdoor area outside that overpriced 'fish
market' restaurant at the InterContinental.

Cheers,
George W Russell
Bangalore

"grusl" kirjoitti
.. .

"Henry" wrote in message
...
grusl wrote:

when a city's attractions include the local
expatriate amateur dramatics anywhere near the top 100, you have a
tourism
industry with institutional problems.

Top 100? You must be jokin'. This is Doha, Qatar we're talking about
here. Where they roll up the streets at 2100 (except, of course, in
Ramadan). Almost as Wahhabi as the Saudis. Top _10_ 'attractions' would
be pushing your luck.


It's liberalised a bit over the past few years in terms of places to go at
night but basically you're correct. I now notice Qataris in full dress
drinking beer in the dark in the outdoor area outside that overpriced
'fish market' restaurant at the InterContinental.

Decay of Western civilizations are lurking in the Gulf states.

On Feb 9, 12:05*am, Alfred Molon wrote:
In article , *says...

A stopover on Etihad from Europe to Asia would be in Abu Dhabi

Yes, you are right. Is it worthwhile to stop two days in Abu Dhabi and
what can you do and see there?
--


Probably even less than in Doha. They were building an extension of
the Louvre, but don't think it's open yet. My only experiences of Abu
Dhabi were being shouted at by Ministry of Information officials. It
has got bigger, but no better. My limited experience of the "old"
Middle East - Beirut and Damascus - has been much more favourable than
of the Gulf glass-and-concrete montrosities.

Cheers,
George W Russell
Bangalore

"grusl" kirjoitti
...

Probably even less than in Doha. They were building an extension of
the Louvre, but don't think it's open yet. My only experiences of Abu
__________________________________________________ __________________

O-la-laa! Louvre will span all the way from Tuileries to the Middle East.