AL ZUBARA

Fort Zubara

Dhow fishing boat coming into port at northern tip of Qatar.

Qatar is a pennisula, but might as well be an island. To drive anywhere (say, the United Arab Emirates) from Qatar one must drive through Saudia Arabia, and we are not allowed to do that. I am starting to get "island fever!"

The other day I felt the urge to get out of Doha. Andy had Monday off work (President's Day) and the kids were in school, so the 2 of us got in the car and drove to the northern tip of Qatar. Doha is one big construction site, but the northern portion of Qatar is desolate. There is a good road leading north (the "North" road), but few cars on it (and they are widening this road - why?). Above is a photo from the little port town at Qatar's northern tip. Very small town, and very few people in sight. When we drove into town (about 1 pm) it felt like something out of The Twilight Zone - buildings, even a school, but not a soul in sight. We finally saw a few people at the port. (I did not see one woman or child until we returned to Doha.) Then, we drove to Al Zubara fort (on Qatarn's NW coast) - which is a restored copy of a fort built in the 16th century to defend a small settlement of fishermen and pearl divers. No signs of the settlement now - the fort is in the middle of nowhere. There isn't even a sign to announce its presence! The caretaker (an old man who lives next to the Fort in a trailer) unlocked the gate for us and we went inside. No museum, no signs, just a few wooden boxes with some clay pot artifacts on the ground. Definitely not worth the drive.

Next post will be some pictures from the Doha Zoo. It was nicer than I expected, and even had a small rose garden.