Feb 14 Doha, Qatar

 5:20 P.M. - 1:20 A.M. Feb. 15

When we landed we walked into a concourse that was not very busy but Very nice, spacious,etc

Thru a checkpoint where I was instructed to take a drink from Maddie’s water thermos to prove its soundness. We sat down in some chairs to rest a bit and get our bearings. We weren’t able to go find our gate yet because of the length of our layover it wasn’t established yet(8 hrs). Lonnie was dealing with some serious fatigue by this time so he grabbed a back pack for a pillow and proceeded to lay on the floor. A veiled lady sitting at a desk nearby soon got up and let us know that there are places to lay down but this was not one of them and security would not allow this. So we gathered our backpacks and headed to find a lounge that we’d been informed of. At the bottom of the escalator were shopping carts to use in the sprawling shopping center so we loaded all our backpacks and car seat on one which made everybody very happy to be relieved of their burdens😌 

We went in search of a lounge. At the bottom of an escalator a lady was answering questions and giving info so we got in line also. The first question was how long til your flight? You could only use the lounge if you had 6 hrs at least! And the price is $64/adult and a lesser price for the girls. We decided to go check it out. We got in another line when we got out of the elevator. At the desk they told us the family areas are a 1st come, 1st serve and they were pretty busy. Invited us to go check it out before we made our decision which we really appreciated! And yes, the little rooms were occupied and the lounge areas were pretty full. So the remaining question was if we want to spend that kind of money on a shower. I decided I didn’t feel too bad and my hair still looked decent😉. Lonnie said a sink in a bathroom would work just fine to take care of his greasy hair. So we headed back downstairs. We walked by a large playground which was luring the girls. Adjoining was a Quiet Room with one reclining chair left. I told Lonnie he better grab it while it was available! The girls hit the playground and I found a comfy chair in a small circular place, called a Television Area, with a 4?ft wall where I could keep my eyes on the girls. Annslie and I stayed there till her melatonin wore off. 

  There was an African American looking couple in there also. The man was in obvious pain so I offered pain reliever. The lady says ear? pointing to her ear and I said yes, for pain. They wanted to know how many to take and expressed their gratitude..

This playground was interesting/unique in its playground equipment. Put “Doha airport playground” in google maps to see pictures of the large bronze playground equipment in the shape of children!!

A couple hours later we freshened up. The girls n I used a “family” room next to the restrooms where we changed clothes and combed hairs. Then off to the food court for some supper. Hamburgers from Giraffes. Our 3 hamburger meals bill was $10 less in Qatar than Chicago and just as good!😋 we also splurged at Costa Coffee on some cold blended goodness. Small size(but they were a sufficient size) Caramel frappé, strawberry crème, and mango/? for a total of $30😳 

Btw the prices were all in Qatar currency on the menus but we paid with our credit card in American currency.

  Time to board, our gate was not far away and I thought they had a very nice system for boarding! The seating was set up in zones so we found our zone 3 and waited for our zone to be called. One of the attendants saw our car seat and said we better check to see if it would fit in their seats. I wasn’t worried because it had fit everywhere else and even the cramped quarters of the “puddle jumper” from Nashville-Chicago. But she got us in line ahead of schedule which we sure didn’t mind😉 

Once again we walked past the elite First Class… a bouquet of red roses on the counter there. 

We found our seats. Next to a gentleman that Annslie studied a bit, then pointed and asked “Papa?” 😅 But, yes, he was very similar dressed in his gray suit like he would be for church. His face color was a wee darker and slimmer, his white beard a tiny bit longer maybe, and just slightly less rotund. Thankfully Maddie was between him n us cause I think Annslie would’ve liked to sit in his lap!

This 5 hr flight was exciting in that it was our last link til we hit Bangladesh soil! Lonnie and the girls slept almost the whole flight! Didn’t even wake for a meal or beverages offered!