A visit to the Taliban Store

No, not that Taliban. This is a small shop hidden away on a small street in Doha crammed to the rafters with buttons, ribbons, bright fabrics and other notions. It seems to cater to tailors and other seamstresses. It is a very busy shop. While we were there for almost an hour it never lacked for several customers at a time. A few women, but primarily men purchasing materials for their projects.

The store front is not elegant but is not shy about its presence.

Just a tiny sample of all the buttons stashed all over the shop.

Bolt after bolt of bright fabrics make it hard to even get around the shop.






Ribbons, anyone?





We have a selection of buttons purchased at the shop. Come in a browse.
Bad Woman Yarn will reopen Wednesday, September 1, after our visit to the Middle East.

Visit to Old Souk

Saturday evening we visited the Old Souk in Doha. This is a collection of independent shops clustered in a warren of alleys. All the shops are probably no more than 10 by 10 feet and are stacked to the ceiling with goods. Most vendors carry a selection of similar items -- shoes, watches, men's clothing, women's clothing, kids wear, kitchen ware -- almost anything one could want. We wandered down just a couple of the alleys taking in the offerings.

The Souk overall is based around a street for pedestrians only. The street is lined with cafes and restaurants offering cuisines from around the world. We ate at a Qatari restaurant. They had a sumptuous buffet feast as the after the daily Ramadan fast. You can see it draped with tapestries and carpets.

 

Getting around in Doha

Getting around is a struggle for newcomers here. Many streets have no name, or if they do, the names are not posted. Traffic control is primarily via roundabouts and they become the milestones one looks for to guide them. "Drive through 3 roundabouts, go right at the next, and left at the second traffic light," is a typical driving direction one gets. Our son and daughter-in-law are beginning to navigate to the places they frequent -- work, shopping, etc.

Yesterday we found the Fruit and Vegetable Market on "Wholesale Market Street." It is full of vendors offering fresh produce from many countries. These pictures show the extent of the market and some of the products offered.

Today we will find the "Taliban Store." No relation to the faction in Afghanistan -- It has a wonderful array of buttons and notions. This according to the Ravelry Doha Knitters Group that Lee visited last Monday.

 

Greetings from Qatar

We arrived safely on Wednesday, the 4th. A long flight but have to give credit to non-US airlines -- they take care of their customers, even in economy class. Good and plentiful food, free movies, no checked baggage fees. The tickets are not inexpensive, but no additional charges.

We are staying with our son, John and his family. His wife, Meike, is now the Marketing Director for Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Qatar. Many US universities have branches of certain departments here in an area known as Education City. VCUQatar's School of Design is here. John and Meike are here with 4-year old Claire for a few years. We brought another granddaughter, Emma with us to experience something beyond the Pacific Northwest.

We have been helping them settle for the first week, watching Claire while the adults take care of all the  logistics of beginning a new job, a new living arrangement, furnishing their home, and all that goes with it. This is a view of their villa in a 3-unit compound which, in turn, is in a larger community surrounding a lagoon that empties into the Arabian Gulf. Nearly everyone drives a Land Cruiser -- gas is about 70 cents a gallon. Electricity is very inexpensive -- provided by natural gas.

The tall buildings are part of downtown Doha, where architects are vying to each build the most unusual structure.