two weeks gone

 We have been here two weeks and have seen lots of soccer and experienced lots of chaos with four dogs and the craziness that is Qatar.  Spent yesterday with Kathy in Lusail, the new city that was promised when the initial bid for the World Cup was made over 13 years ago, and is now a unique and thriving suburb to Doha, but not completely finished.  This where the Lusail stadium is -- an 80,000 seat stadium and where there are some hotels that seem to defy description including the Doha version of Raffles Hotel, the grown up version of the one that is in Singapore.  It's hard to believe that 12 years ago this was sand with almost no buildings of any kind, now it is full of hotels, restaurants, amusement parks and a lovely harbor.  Raffles Hotel is not cheap as are most things in this country.  From what we can find the cheapest room starts around $1500 per night, but it does include a personal butler for all your personal needs.  


Spent some time in the Mega Mart grocery store get where Kathy gets many of her food items.  It is international in scope with products from just about everywhere.  Tillamook Cheese is here at 97QR ($26.65) for the brick of cheddar that Fred Meyers sells for about $8.00.  Locally produced cheese or that from Egypt is a lot cheaper, but if you want Oregon's own, you have to pay for it.  There is an Ikea Store here too that not only sells you all the traditional Ikea furniture and household items, but offers to deliver and set up at no additional charge.  

Watched the Argentina - Croatia match on TV last night.  Tickets were available from people Kathy knows but at $1300 per ticket it was a bit rich for our taste.  For some reason the match started at 10 PM local time which meant it didn't end until midnight.  Made for a long evening, but a very good soccer match.  Tonight it is Morocco and France which will be great. Went for an early evening walk at the Qatar Foundation and came across this soccer ball sculpture.

Awillwe post some photos tomorrow.  We will be going to an Art Show outdoors later today.  The weather be warm with temperatures in the low 80's and sunny.


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