Wanna buy a souvenir, a
falcon, or maybe even a camel?
Qatar has the place for you.
Souq Waqif is the heart
of traditional Qatar,
souqs are traditional market places
where people used to
trade and buy anything
from spices to animals.
This souq in Doha is hundreds of years old
and it was recently renovated
to maintain the traditional
Qatari architecture.
During the day the souq is
deserted due to the intense heat,
but at night the place really comes alive.
Locals and tourists
flock to the market place
to eat from the many food
stands and restaurants
and to smoke flavored tobacco
on the traditional shishas.
Once you finish dinner,
wander around the massive
maze of shops and stalls,
you can find anything at the souq
from art and souvenirs to take home
to spices, carpets, homewares, toys
and much more,
but it doesn't end there,
you can buy majestic
Arabian horses at the souq
and if you explore a bit more
you can even pick out your
favorite camel to take home.
However if you wanna shop
like a rich Qatari local,
you need to visit the Falcon Souq,
it's an entire area in Souq Waqif
dedicated to buying a falcon.
Falcons are considered
a status symbol in Qatar
and the locals collect
them and use them to hunt,
so if you've got a cool $34,000
US dollars lying around,
pick one up.
If you're worried about
buying too much at the souq,
don't be, the market
has traditional porters
who will carry your shopping
around for you in wheelbarrows,
so shop till you drop.
