doha daily 1/30/06

This juice stall (fresh squeezed juices) seem to be very common, mostly where areas are more populated and "older" (like, where our current apartment is located, for example) Also very common are gents saloons, where men go to get their haircut, feet washed and just hang out, poultry places, where you can pick out your live chicken clucking in the storefront - haven't brought myself to do that one yet, and butcheries, where there are literally skinned lambs hanging on large meathooks in the front window.


Here are some views from the road nearby where Thierry and I were looking at a compound to live...we've decided to search for some more "populated" areas...The tree-lined street you see is NOT a common occurrence as of yet, although probably will be in the next 5 years. And the top picture is a view from our apartment / hotel complex - those too, are apartments/hotels.

So, as you can guess, Tristan and I have been in the car for the last 3 days going from one end of Doha to the other end searching for a place to live once our furniture arrives. We have been through the stand-alone 5 bedrooms + maid's quarters w/private pool, to a one-story 3 bedroom, 2 bath apartment and all expenses included. What we need, however, is something IN BETWEEN, and of course, there doesn't seem to be much of "in between" out there. To find your dream home, it seems to take a bit of word of mouth. Perfect example: For Thierry's day off Saturday, we headed to the Doha Golf Club to follow Ernie Els around for awhile. We entered the "family area," where there were two large bounce-houses for kids and expats EVERYWHERE sitting at teak wood tables with umbrella's drinking their foster's lager out of ice cold pints - HEAVEN! We sat down with the Dir. of F&B who immediately introduced us to everyone. I, of course, tell all, "Oh yes, we've been looking for places all week, yada yada yada," when Lulu from Scotland interjects - "Hey, one of the places in our 34-home compound just became available. We have a pool, gym, 4 bedrooms, a great common yard where we all get together and party, etc. etc, etc. It's one of the 3 compounds where the US Embassy sets up its peeps." My eyes were wide - WOW! Now THAT is word of mouth. And her husband Nick went on to say... "Oh yeah. In fact, the housing manager's husband is the golf course manager - she's actually here today, volunteering for the tournie" NO WAY! THIS JUST KEEPS GETTING BETTER! So, off we went to see Ernie and meet this person who could seal my fate for the easiest "housing transition" that ever an expat experienced when moving to Doha. After seeing Ernie up close and personal and playing an "ok" couple of holes, I was actually thinking more about meeting this person who I would be getting my keys from within the next two weeks : ). As I rounded the corner in the crowd, I saw our new friend speaking to our new landlord...And although she was smiling at him (they go back a few months now), she was shaking her head disappointingly no. I arrived to the conversation when she turned to me and said, "I JUST finalized the new tenants yesterday - if only you had seen me yesterday." Crushed! And we had never even seen it...that's the story of finding a place in Doha, I guess - I think it's just like that.
We do have a plan though. And it involves a compound, well-established with landscaping, etc...3 bedrooms, 3 bath - huge pool with a cascading waterfall, tennis courts, squash court, gate guards, the whole works, and it feels right just talking about it. The only loophole is, we don't know WHEN we would get in, as it is currently...occupied : )

See you soon.