\n\t\t\t\tSkyscrapers under construction in Kuwait City\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\nSouk Al-Mubarakiya<\/strong> is the city\u2019s main market. Here, you can find folk costumes like women\u2019s abayas (cloak-like items resembling long, wide dresses) and men\u2019s dishdasha (a long dress), as well as scarves, rugs, perfumes, souvenirs, candy, tea and chocolate on display in small stores and tents across the market.<\/p>\nThe strong-scented incense<\/strong> that\u2019s embedded in Kuwaiti culture can be smelled all over the city, with its unmistakable, inebriating aroma that\u2019s mostly sandalwood-based. At the souk, it sells from tents; at hotels and other public places, they are burned in batches to purify the air and mask the smell of food and cigarettes. Kuwaiti men and women also wear it as perfume.<\/p>\nOutside the souk are the cafes and restaurants, with a big variety of foods<\/strong> influenced by Arab Mediterranean, Indian and Asian cuisines. The food is great. Arab food fans can delight in a variety of hummus, baba ghanoush, dry curd, Arab bread, lamb, poultry (which comes from Brazil), beef, salad, rice and sweets, all very fresh and flavorful. The quality of Kuwaiti food is excellent virtually anywhere, since food safety control is very strict.<\/p>\nAlcohol<\/strong> is prohibited in the country, but options include fruit juices, camel milk, yoghurts and alcohol-free drinks. Black tea and Arab coffee (the one with the cardamom) are found just about everywhere.<\/p>\nThe place to be in Kuwait right now, caf\u00e9s<\/strong> are\u00a0hugely popular among youngsters in the City. They offer types of coffee that are more familiar to Brazilian tastes, such as espresso, strained, and French pressed. The grain is sourced from Brazil, Ethiopia, Honduras and Panama. In some cafes (like the one pictured in the gallery), Brazilian coffee bags were part of the d\u00e9cor.<\/p>\nSheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Cultural Centre<\/strong> is a place for the whole family, with concert and opera halls, restaurants and other attractions. The ultramodern, glass- and steel-heavy buildings with arabesques are Islamic architecture-inspired, and they seem to match the landscape near the beach. The place was designed by British architect Ray Phillips and opened a year and a half ago. It has featured orchestras, operas and artists from around the world. Every half an hour there\u2019s a musical fountain show, and the water seems to dance to the rhythm of Arab music.<\/p>\nThe Kuwait Modern Art Museum<\/strong> is set in an old house with traditional Arab architecture, built around a central patio. The place was home to one of the oldest, most prestigious schools for boys since 1938 \u2013 emir Sabah Al Ahmad attended it \u2013 before its conversion into a museum in 2003. During my visit, there were three different exhibits taking place: one featuring \u201cbefore and after\u201d photos of bombings in Iraq and two featuring paintings, by Iraq\u2019s Maher Al-Taee and Armenia\u2019s Jackie Kazarian.<\/p>\nThe Kuwait Towers<\/strong> are a beautiful landmark, completed in 1979 and symbolizing modernity. During the day, the three towers (the smallest of them can only be seen during the day) are blue-toned; at night, the colors of the national flag shine on it. The tallest of the towers is 187 meters high, and the biggest of the spheres includes a 4,500 cubic-meter water tank in its bottom and a 90-seat restaurant in its top. The second tower measures 147 meters and is intended for water supply. The two towers hold 9,000 cubic meters of water. The third tower is not meant for water storage.<\/p>\nThe National Library of Kuwait<\/strong>, established in 1923, features books, periodicals and assorted publications in Arabic, French and English. Brazil\u2019s ambassador to Kuwait, Norton Rapesta, said he will donate 300 books written in Brazilian Portuguese to the library.<\/p>\nGetting there<\/strong><\/p>\nThe trip from S\u00e3o Paulo to Kuwait City takes nearly a whole day. This ANBA reporter took 15 hours to get to Dubai, UAE, and then waited for three hours for the connection before taking another 1h45 Emirates flight to Kuwait City. The time zone is GMT+3. Flights are available from several airlines, with layovers in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce<\/strong> partner companies Emirates and Qatar Airways fly S\u00e3o Paulo-Kuwait City routes, the former via Dubai and the latter via Doha. No nonstop flights are available.<\/p>\nTranslated by Gabriel Pomerancblum<\/strong><\/p>\nYasser Al-Zayyat\/AFP<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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