My weekend

It has been a really nice weekend.  On Thursday after school I went with a bunch of girls from my building to the Oasis beach club.  There is a pool, the beach, and "gym" (a very simple room with weights), snack bar, restaurant.  It is nothing fancy, but it is nice.  It was so nice to lay out by a pool, which was very cool and refreshing.  It was really surreal to be there right after work.  It seemed more like somewhere I would have been for a vacation, not just an everyday place.  I will most likely join that club.  It is very close to home and a reasonable price, it is also nice because there are more locals that join there rather than the big hotels that will be filled with businessmen and people on holidays.

After a nice layout and swim in the sea, a big group of us went down to dinner at Welcome Dine, a restaurant right next to our building that serves, Indian and Chinese food.  Although we had to wait awhile it was really delicious.  I had dal and naan bread.  It was delicious, the dal was almost like a warm hummus but thinner and lots more flavor.  They also have an interesting drink that is pureed watermelon and vanilla ice cream, it was delicious.  After dinner we walked through the souks.  A few nights before we had found this bakery that makes fresh Lebanese flat bread (not sure if that is exactly what it is, just a good guess).  He literally hands it to you off the grill, it is delicious and so cheap.  I also found some bread there that was much fresher and cheaper than what I have been buying at the grocery store.  But I am still really missing whole grain bread, I think I am just going to have to learn to make it on my own.

Friday was pretty mellow, I went into work with two other teachers for a good five hours.  Got a lot of work done and took pictures.  Me and Georgie just stayed in the rest of the night.  I spent most of the night looking online for something to do on the winter holiday.  I think I have decided on an eight day Egyptian tour.  I'll fill you in once I have the trip booked!

Saturday, I started my morning with some yummy french toast (still good even without, sugar, vanilla, or syrup), I am improvising with honey.  Then Georgie, Jen, Charlie and I took a limo (not the limo you're thinking of.  Limo's here are cars that drive you places that are not proper taxis.  Its very strange, you will stand on the side of the road and cars will just pull up and ask where you need to go.  We had the same experience when going to school on Friday, a guy in a land cruiser pulled up, I told him we needed to get to D-Ring and we would pay 13 QR, thats what the actual taxi fare is, and he took us.) We took the limo to the Newton British campus, where Georgie works, and us three girls laid out by the pool, and swam for a good part of the afternoon.  The water was cold and the pool has an awning covering it so it was perfect.  And it was free!  To go to the Oasis is 60 QR* on the weekend and 40 QR during the week.    We then walked to Villagio, got some groceries and came home.  While at the grocery store they had a stand in the fruit department and a guy was peeling (not sure if thats the right word) and packaging fresh pineapple.  I got a whole pineapple for 8.25 QR (about $2.26).  It was so tasty I had to restrain myself from eating the whole thing in one sitting.

That brings me to now, 9:30 p.m., saturday night writing this blog.  I am pretty tired from my day in the sun, and will be asleep soon.  Thanks so much for reading everybody, I always look forward to your comments.  Sorry I'm not better at responding to them.

*$1 = 3.65QR (Qatari Riyals) I am still not used to the currency rate, and am always trying to convert it in my head.  It always seems like you are paying a lot, even when you are not.  Tonight for instance I bought a bath towel for 25 QR, that seems like so much but is actually only about $7.