Don's Update on his Qatar R&R

We talked to Don today and he also send an e-mail describing his R&R to Qatar as well as a bunch of pictures!

So this is what he had to say:

"Day 0 - We just hung out and familiarized ourselves with the base. I went to chapel and John Van Steenvoort got a massage. Signed up for Day 1 venue. Had dinner at Chili's (cheeseburger).

Day 1 - Inland sea picnic. Drove out to edge of city in SUVs, let some air out of the tires and then drove 45 minutes through the sand dunes to the Persian Gulf. Swam in the gulf (very warm and salty water) dodging jelly fish. Rode a camel, ate lunch, took a lot of pictures. After lunch went wading along the shore and got stung on the top of my right foot by a jelly fish. A lot of people were getting stung pretty good because the tide was washing the jelly fish on the shore in the afternoon. Returned to base, signed up for Day 2 venue.

Day 2 - Went golfing at Doha Championship Golf Course and returned to base to sign up for Day 3 venues. Went to Villagio Mall (very much like a western shopping mall, and modeled after the hotel/casino in Las Vegas). Had dinner at Macaroni Grill and walked around the mall. Had a coffee at Starbucks then watched kids ice skate in the mall. Returned to base.

Day 3 - Water sports in the Persian Gulf starting with a Dhow boat ride out to an island. Swimming, and a banana inflatable tube (holds 4-6 people) pulled by a speed boat, while others took turns on the jet skis. Jumped off the front of the boat a few times. Took lots of pictures. Had lunch on the boat. While others took turns on the inner tube (1 person at a time) pulled by the speed boat in the afternoon, I took a nap on the boat in the shade of the boats top structure. Returned to base, got my massage, facial, manicure and pedicure (nearly 2 hours total).

Day 4 - Slept in while doing laundry. Worked out in the gym/MWR; watched a movie; planned to hang out pool side, but scrapped the idea for taking an afternoon nap. It was too hot outside in the afternoon in Qatar anyway. Had dinner at Chili's on base again (combo fajitas). Somewhere in there we prepacked for our return and checked the board for the report time to depart for airport (next morning at 0900). Returned to Baghdad the following day. Great time."