Roundabouts and bouts around

The British have left their mark here. Roundabouts are all over. Mind you, we still have no drivers licenses so walking is our mode of transportation. Roundabouts are a hazard to walkers. Other than a very few brave (and crazy) foreign construction workers, I have yet to see a Qatari cross a roundabout walking. Probably because it means crossing 4 lanes of nonstop traffic. The driving is crazy here, but nothing like Cairo. So, in comparison, I guess it it's OK. Having never driven here, I can say the walking is, shall I say, interesting? We started out walking to "The Pearl" yesterday afternoon around 4:30. We arrived home by 10:30 - having walked most of that time. You see things walking you would never see driving. Again, we haven't driven, so you must be wondering how I can say that. When you don't have a choice you say things after you have survived them, hoping that you can recognize the merit in what you have just experienced. The walk was fascinating and quite nice actually --- until we failed to find a taxi to drive us home. Those last 2 miles were a killer. We googled a walking route to try to avoid some of the busy roads. That route took us though a new compound we have never walked. Compounds are just neighborhoods and tend to be quiet and pretty devoid of traffic. This compound had an independent school, several homes to diplomats (the flags flying and signs on the entry gates gave us the identity, and variety of homes we hadn't seen before. After crossing a bridge and walking along a beautifully lit entry road, we entered "The Pearl". We had been driven to the Pearl a couple times by friends and frankly wondered why we were taken there. Nice, well lit streets, but nothing much. There just had to be more to merit such enthusiasm by those that took the time to drive us there. Well, we found out. You can't drive to or on what we saw ---- you must walk! Behind the buildings and the streets is a boat harbour shaped like a "C". The boats docked along the harbour are magnificent. Rarely do even the yachts docked in Chicago rival these yachts. All along the "C" are shops and restaurants. Not "Gap" or the "normal" stores. But stores I have never heard of. One of a kind stores. Very few people were shopping or even walking. There was only one employee in each store. The wares were beautifully displayed in well lit areas with floor to ceiling glass separating the stores from the walking mall or outdoor area. I almost felt sorry for the store owners, wondering how they could make a living! Perhaps I should buy something to help keep them open. Then I remembered I walked here and, as yet, I have no job. They can afford to rent space in "The Pearl" and perhaps those yachts belong to them! I made J. promise we would return soon and eat along the harbour - but not this time. My feet were killing me! Another brilliant idea occurred to me. Katara was not far from "The Pearl" and Katara had some great restaurants, not too pricey. We could just walk there and take a cab home! J's response was, "Sure, Barbara. Lead the way. Are you sure you know where you are going?" Confidently, I set off leading the way. Several cabs stopped to offer us a ride. Confident Katara was just down the road a bit, we refused. Several miles later, we arrived! That wasn't so bad! The barriers to walking are amazing. I will never complain about construction in America. It is nothing ompared to construction here! Lebanese/Armenian food tempted us, so with aching feet we sat down----finally! If you are wondering if I have lost weight with all the walking and running --- the answer is "no". It's the food I eat. The cheese and rich food more than make up for the exercise, although we are holding our own, I think. As I said in the beginning, where is a taxi when you need one. We gave up looking after the meal, so walked the 2 miles home. Three advil did the trick -- and a cup of tea, a warm bath and a bed! Suffice it to say, that the details of our everyday living are not much different than what I described above. More walking, new sights, food, a cup of tea. Everyday I am itching to take a new route and see new things. I think J. will be relieved if I can find a job!!! My enthusasm is wearing us both out and crossing these roundabouts is hazardous to our health and somewhat dangerous. We are so excited when a large crossing is controlled by a traffic light! Such simple pleasures make us happy! But even that can be tricky. I was not looking forward to driving here ---- but, perhaps it won't be so bad. It may beat walking.