Guess Who's Coming to Doha?

...Other than Miss Kristi who will arrive next week!

Pretty much the entire cast of Black Gold, that's who.

Doha Film Institute has been rolling out hints on twitter and facebook of who is going to grace our fair desert for the much anticipated Doha Tribecca Film Festival coming up. As of right now, it looks as though this billboard will come alive in the next two weeks, not only on the big screen but in the flesh. Nothing like dangling a little Antonio Banderas in front of me to get my hiney off the couch and head to City Center Mall this afternoon to get in line for tickets to the world premier of Black Gold (partly filmed in Qatar). Whoa, "hello line". I had great intentions but came up a bit when I saw that it might take awhile. If I had known without a doubt that if I stood in that long line and walked out with tickets in hand I wouldn't have hesitated. No disrespect to DTFF, but let's face it friends, we are in Doha and a gut feeling came over me that the tickets to the premier would be set aside for "special" people and the last time I checked, my "wasta" card had expired. I chit chatted with a friend that I saw in line and made my final decision to exit the building. I'll take my chances for tickets from the comfort of my laptop in my pink villa, if they ever get their online sales in order. Good luck to those who are waiting it out. That's a wrap.

Follow up:

All good things come to those who wait...

Oh, ME, who has little faith :(

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Pass the Pumpkin

Do we celebrate Halloween in Qatar, you ask? I don't know about everyone else, but our major grocery stores, LuLu and Carrefour do. For about $4.50 a pound you can take one home this holiday season for all your jack~o~lantern and pumpkin pie needs. Note the one in the pic prices out at 1576 QR. That would be a whopping 433 U.S. buckaroos.

Like I said, pass the pumpkin, literally. Sweet potato pie is sounding better and better.

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Heat Relief

The Pearl Marina ~ Qatar

David and I took advantage of today's fair weather and spent the evening soaking up some fresh air and scenery at The Pearl. Yes, fall is in the air. It's hard to imagine when the temps are still in the 90's, but being my fifth October in Doha I've come to appreciate those digits. It's not really a magic temperature, it's the falling humidity that accompanies it that makes those here know that the season is upon us. Before you know it our local newspapers will be calling for all to "get out the woolies!". Yes, it would seem a bit premature for most of us, but there are those that take it and run. The first morning that the 70's mark is broken, you can bet that people will be running to Carrefour, snatching up every space heater in sight. God bless them. Bring it on mother nature. Hit me with your best shot.

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Bella Toscana!

After a week in Tuscany, it is so hard to whittle down the pictures and events of our stay. I decided to summarize it with mainly the farmhouse. If we had not had a car at our beck and call, we would have been perfectly content staying on the grounds of Cretatoile and soaking up the area by foot.

The highlight of our week visit in Tuscany was our stay at Cretaiole. It is a beautiful agriturismo located in the heart of the Unesco World Heritage Site of the Val d'Orcia. David and I had a beautiful one bedroom efficiency style apartment while our traveling companions stayed in a three bedroom apartment above us. Just as beautiful as the views from our window was our hostess, Isabella, that welcomed us and made our stay relaxing, yet full of activities.

This is an early morning view of the city of Pienza from Cretaiole. The tranquility of the area was amazing. Our post sunrise hike led us past one of the most photographed sites in Tuscany, the Chapel of The Madonna di Vitaleta as well as past a cypress tree lined drive that was included in the movie, The Gladiator.

Chapel of The Madonna di Vitaleta

The scenic beauty was not the only offerings that Cretaiole had in store for us. There were wine and olive oil tastings, pasta cooking classes, biking, along with restaurant and tour suggestions. The much anticipated event of the year, the "vendemmia" was announced for the Wednesday while we were there. Yes, we wholeheartedly harvested Cretaiole's grapes, but much to my dismay, no stomping. The famous I Love Lucy episode that I refreshed myself on before leaving Qatar went to waste as that is no longer the way of the land.

After work and play every evening at Cretaiole, many of the guests met with the family patriarch, Luciano, for an evening of hand gestures and grappa, along with my new found friend, limoncello. Luciano did not speak a word of English, but somehow camaraderie and fellowship with alcohol trumped all language barriers. Salute! Oh, did I mention the fact that my brother in law speaks Italian?

Cretaiole was the core of our Tuscany visit, but we also ventured out to Assisi, Sienna, Pienza, Orvieto, among other small towns. So much to be discovered, so little time. Ciao!

Tuscan Sunset from Cretaiole's grounds

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Back From Tuscany

Back from Tuscany...fat and tired. The official weigh in was 4.4 pounds more than when I left just nine days ago. Ouch...still trying to figure out the exact cause. Was it the olive oil tasting, the pasta cooking class, the feast I was served for harvesting the grapes, the dessert at every meal, the occasional gelato thrown in to round out our three square meals (more like three meals squared) a day? Food overload from this week would be an understatement. We even got bumped to Business Class on Qatar Airways for our trip home last night. Pass the Godiva chocolates please, the right hip needs a little more.

The Tuscan sun goes down on our holiday,
but leaves great memories behind.

My Doha antics will return, but please allow me to cling to our Tuscan adventures for a bit. Yes, that means you have to cling with me. Pictures forthcoming ;P

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