A recap: spending Christmas in Doha is strange because you need to really look for signifiers for the holiday (outside of hotel Christmas trees). Though there had been plenty of festive gatherings prior to the start of break, once most of our friends were off on their various journeys home or to exotic locales, the bright shining sun and the persistence of house music on the local radio station did a fairly handy job of distracting us from homesickness. Which isn't to say we were straight heathens in our holiday neglect, there was cookies and presents and feasting--and on Christmas Day we took a festive bike ride and expedition to Musheireb, an old and interesting neighborhood in the center of the city which will probably be leveled for brighter, shinier ventures within the decade.
We got samosas and had our bikes admired. Bean stayed at home and got the hang of her tricked out new travel accessory (all she needs now is a little desert rat to transport). Though nothing could ever replace Christmas at home, it was a really nice day, special in its rarity, and worth its weight in cultural anachronisms. Gold, frankincense, and myrrh for everyone!
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