Qatar

Once again, like Keanu Reeves in Speed, but this time without his Sandra Bullock, I was on another bus hurtling towards the Egyptian Embassy, but at a much more manageable speed.

A pending move to Egypt awaits. So does a visa that requires blood tests, ultrasounds, double and triple stamped documents by govt agencies.

World Cup Day 3 provided surprises, but the bigger surprise was two days before the opening match when the King of Beers would not be served.

Basketball has been my sport. My interest in the World Cup grew in 1998. Yet my first World Cup game would be USA vs. Wales 24 years later.

Since our arrival to Doha in 2019, I’ve always had one lazy eye on the World Cup Day #1. As the years became months, days, and then just hours until the World Cup opening match, excitement and anticipation grew.

When my wife and I recruited for international teaching positions in Qatar, we honestly had no idea where Qatar was in the Middle East. But after accepting positions, the goal remained to attend FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, the most compact soccer tournament in history.

Like salt in the sea, camels roam the desert. An unprecedented pandemic presented an unexpected opportunity. It’s allowed me to fully reengage my love of sport and cycle Qatar.

The Roman writer, Pliny the Elder, passed by Qatar and called the inhabitants Catharrei. I can only imagine he also recognized the cycling opportunity across this super flat and arid desert and would have called it Qatar Quest.