Call to Prayer

The Pearl-Qatar

Upon arrival at the airport, you are bombarded by people giving away free Sim Cards, unlimited use for 3 days. At the end of that offer if you renew with the same company they double your data as a bonus. If you go back again lo and behold you have won a prize. All the time they try very hard to make themselves popular.

Having completed a visit to all eight stadiums, I began to feel a little more adventurous. I believe the ticketing problem has now been sorted, and so decided to go to all the games on Days 8 and 9. What could go wrong?

Well, there probably should be another article on this experience itself, but it was all a blur. 8 games in 35 hours. Yes, things didn't always go to plan. The most noticeable would probably be the journey to Al Bayt, remember it is the stadium furthest away.

So no surprise that it was a problem. Ten minutes before kick off we were speeding up the motorway, past the stationary traffic that was turning to go to the stadium. The motorway was empty and there were no cameras!

We saw a bridge and decided to jump out of the car in the middle of the motorway. Then we had to go back to the bridge entrance, over the barrier, down and up the big ditch by the side of the motorway, and then across the sand to what looked like an electrified fence. I wasn't touching that first.

Thankfully it was ok and we squeezed through a hole in the fence. Then we ran to the entrance. I think there is one thing I forgot to tell you. I didn't have a ticket. I had been promised one and had been asking for the details so I could login and get it. But apparently, there were problems at the other end. Anyway, I got in but missed the first ten minutes.

My last day here and no 13.00 kick off. Luxury, get up after 9, having got in about 3 am. Decided to visit The Pearl, a man-made island. It was nice to be able to relax and stroll around the luxurious surroundings. However, my favourite spot was the air-conditioned bus shelter.

After that, I headed back to Souq Waqif, where for the first time I could hear the call to prayer. Not the one I had been following, "Stadium, this way."

If you know your adhan, football is better than sleep. 24 games in 10 days.

That's the end of part one!