Doha's Corniche

One of our favorite diversions is taking evening walks on Doha's famous Corniche. The Corniche is a seaside pedestrian zone that extends from the Sheraton Hotel in West Bay (Al Dafna) to Qatar's Islamic Art Museum at the other end of the bay.

We, like so many Doha residents enjoy taking after-dinner strolls along this most popular walkway. On weekends, it is full of people. Entire families, joggers, kids on bikes, picnicers and boating ethusiasts all congrate at the water's edge.

 Susan and I especially enjoy the night time cityscape and all the colorful reflections upon the water. In fact, may of the newer skyscrapers feature some very colorful lighting on weekend nights.

Even the festive lighting from dhows (traditional arabic wooden boats) moored along the Corniche contribute to this evening light show. For around QR 200, one can jump aboard for a slow evening cruise around the bay. Too fun!

During the warmest months, an evening stroll along the Corniche offers many of Doha's residents the only relief from the day's relentless heat. Even when the night air seems stiflingly stagnant elsewhere in town, one will can be refreshed by a light evening ocean breeze here.

One late afternoon, we happed upon a great sight of these traditional dhows sailing toward West Bay highrise district in the background. Today, most dhows are motorized, but their are still some that are rigged for sailing. As you can see they are beautifully crafted wooden ships used today primarily for recreation, but a motorized fleet is used by Doha's commercial fisherman too.  (I love this picture as it portrays the contrast of  Doha's old world against an ultra modern highrise cityscape  Cool....eh?)