It's a stretch to call Al-Mirqab Street (I think that's the name) my favourite street in all of Doha because there really isn't a single street that I like, at all, but if I were to have a favourite, Al-Mirqab it would be.
First off, it has a Thai restaurant that, when you pass through the fairy-light lit doors, you feel like you're in some cheesy outdoor Vietnamese cafe with the fake pond and the rickety chairs and the delicious food.
Second off, it has Turkey Central, THE place to buy chicken shwarmas and baba ghanouj. And I mean it, it is THE place.
Third off, it's alive with walkers so cars have to slow down, just a tad anyway. There are still too many SUVs on the road, including Hummers that scritch by as they pass each other in either direction. Too many cars double parked. Too many cars honking. But, regardless, there are pedestrians. It's nice to see people walking from Turkey Central to the tailors to the barbershop to the Swiss bakery to the Filipinno grocery store to the educational wooden toy shop. (Yes, a wooden toy shop. I was shocked.)
As I sat in the front passenger seat of our not double parked SUV outside Turkey Central the other day waiting for Hubs to pick up our evening feast, I wondered if, had we lived just down the road from this street--that is, within walking distance--could I have hacked it here in Doha.
The answer is probably still no.
We are leaving Doha for good a week from today.
I won't miss this city, not even Al-Mirqab Street. At all.
wow, where are you off to next?
Posted by: illahee | January 09, 2009 at 07:07 PM
Good luck in the next leg of your adventure!
Posted by: heather | January 13, 2009 at 04:37 PM