Bahrain

We're already leaving for Bahrain and it seems like we just got here!  Well we did kind of but it sure does go by fast.  I'm sitting in the airport in Bahrain awaiting our flight to Doha - Qatar.  

Bahrain didn't have much to see but I'm pretty sure we made good use of our two days here.  On Sunday we first visited the famous Al-Fetah mosque.  We had a great tour guide leader.  She answered any and all questions we had related to Muslim culture and about the Quran and all other sorts.  She was wearing a burka during the tour which was a neat experience for me to encounter getting to speak with a woman wearing one for over an hour.

After the mosque we went to the Bahrain national museum. There we saw some beautiful exhibits and artwork.  

Next we visited the souk or markets!  I was a little bit disappointed in them in comparison to other countries that also have souks.  We were in the hunt for pearl earrings and Sanna actually found some today on our second trip where we were more experience in navigating the maze.  During our trip to the pearl shop it was neat to encounter also a person trying to sell pearls to the owner.  They were negotiating a lot over this deal and we got to see about 20 pearls still in their shell!

After this madness we drove to the Bahrain and Saudi border!  We could literally see Saudi in the distance.  Funny...it was so dark and hazy could barely make it out.  Must be all the wealth, riches and oil.  As we drove back to Bahrain across the bridge it was all sunny and warm!

Last night we went to a cozy cafe and smoked hooka or shisha.  Another great experience to get to do this in a middle eastern country.  We had a few appetizers and relaxed by the Persian gulf in the evening.  

Another stop today was going to the Quran museum.  There were ancient qurans mostly in Arabic but so many replicas and meanings.  After going there and getting my free English transition from the mosque - I'm ready to get reading!  Ha

Our last stop was getting a drink at the ritz Carlton hotel after running out of things to do and not being able to take a nap! This place was people watching central!  I highly recommend if you want to
 see Muslims drinking - well it was an interesting experience to say the least.