#38 Perhaps the stupidest thing I have ever done!

Hi Everyone I'm in Doha, Qatar. I arrived here at 6:00 this morning and had 13 hours to take in Doha. I started my adventure by taking a taxi to the town. I got out at a spot where I thought I could continure walking and found that the town is not easy to walk around. I finally found a place to buy water in the 104 degrees at 8:00 a.m. and the store owner told me where I could get breakfast. I had breakfast and then went to the Bazaar or Souk that was conveniently located next door to the restaurant. I walked around there for a little while and realized when I was done that "I was done". All I wanted to do was go back to the airport and flake out until my flight at 7:45 p.m. So I caught another taxi and went back to the airport. I managed to sleep a little and my nose started running so much that I was going through toilet paper like crazy. I took an antihistamine and around 3:45 found that I only had one left and I definitely needed another one before arriving in Kolkata. So I left the airport and walked until I found a pharmacy. Actually as soon as I left the airport terminal I felt much better that it is the air conditioning in the terminal that may be causing my nose to run. Outside it was hot and there is a lot of dust and I think it could be allergies affecting me. When I came back from the pharmacy I went to get something to eat at the snack bar in the airport, managed to spend all my Qatar money by buying a candy bar, and headed for the gate. I looked at the time and realized it was time to board except that it was an hour later than I thought and the flight had left. Like I said, it may be the stupidest thing I ever did. I was so upset with myself. Some of the Qatar Airline people have been very nice and others were totally useless. Bottom line - I am now confirmed to the airport. They took my passport. The next flight out to Kolkata is the same flight as today just 24 hours later. So I am stuck here. Lucky I have a change of clothing with me that my suitcase will be in Kolkata by tomorrow morning - or at least I hope so. I think I should check with the airline. I'm sitting on the floor with 9 others, 1/2 Chinese (the Chinese man was so nice that the electricity plug is different than what I have and he let me use his socket), some Africans, some Arabs and two women all the way to my left that look European. We're all gathered around the electricity outlets charging our batteries. When I found I missed my plane the first thing I knew I needed to do was call my people in India who were coming to pick me up at 5:00 a.m. tomorrow. That was an ordeal because I needed to buy a phone card which they sold at the coffee shop - US $9.00. Lucky I bring US money with me. Then I couldn't get the pay phones to work. There are a lot of phones that are having problems but I found one that I could call on. So I caught my friend before they went to bed, and he knows not to pick me up at 5:00 a.m. tomorrow morning. I sent them an email (it's father and son who are coming to pick me up) and I hope it won't be an inconvenience for the son that he works. Sunday was his day off but Monday he works. Anyway, that's my escapade. We shall see what happens tomorrow. The plane I missed had my vegetarian meal on it, too. By time I arrive in Kolkata, it will be two nights I didn't sleep in a bed, and over 48 hours of travel time since I left Istanbul. Thanks for hanging in there for me, everyone. Now I can rest in India for a while, no traveling for a little while. Love Marie