This is 'me mate', Sam. I'm told he never smiles. Well, here he is, grinning from ear to ear as we land in Qatar. We are ready for a new adventure, if only for a few days!
We have been travelling the Middle East for the last seven years and we love it! I sat in the business lounge speaking German with a Romanian married to an Italian managing an Emirate firm. This is the Middle East: Expats from everywhere. In every combination.
The call to prayer. The smells of the spice Souk. Emerald green sea, pale blue sky. White sand dunes. Baba ganoush. Stunning women in Abayah. Dashing men sipping cardamon coffee boiled in brass pots. This is the Middle East.
Burger King. Bennigan's. Versace. Mercedez. This, too, is the Middle East.
Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan, The Holy Land, Egypt and the Emirates. Soon Oman. The Lebanon, we hope, though things look a bit dismal now. One day, God willing, Iraq, a land of incredible history and beauty.
What treasure troves. What incredible diversity, hospitality and generosity. What turmoil and distress. The world in microcosm
Only once an unpleasant word, with a Saudi, who thought I should know my place as a woman.
I do. It's along side you, dear sir. I'm Dr Beth.
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