Muscat, Oman - Nizwa Fort and Souk - Mar 18

Muscat, Oman - Nizwa Fort and Souk

It's our 2nd time in Oman and last time we visited the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque and went dune bashing and had coffee and dates in a Bedouin tent served by a wonderful Bedouin woman. https://photos.app.goo.gl/frmDADreGxpe9Lfv9

So, this time we went to explore the old capital of Oman. 

We are joined today by a larger group than I normally like. We had four 4X4's with 4 people in each. Our group today was Horst and Mark, Bob & Phyllis, Cathy & Tom, Roberta & John, June, Tom and 2 couples we didn't know previously Jeanne & Jeff and Florence & Walter. 

We had a small issue when one couple didn't show up. (Florence & Walter) Heather was a dear and looked up their cabin number and I called them. She said she had been emailing me and emailing me to see when they should pay for the tour. (I had one from here that I found a day later) I told them where we were, and they came right down. Not sure why she didn't call the cabin if she was confused where and when to show up. All was fine and we didn't get off too late.

We boarded the shuttle and after a short distance we had to get out and go through a building to have our bags scanned. Then, we reboarded the shuttle which was supposed to drop us right outside the gate, but the driver proceeded past, and we asked where he was going, and the answer was city center. We had him turn around and our drivers were waiting for us. Our driver/guide and I think the owner of the company was Khanfan. www.omandaytours.com

It was a couple hours' drive to get there, and we started with the Souk. There was some confusion when a phone call came that there were 2 cars still at the port waiting for us. Sunshine tours rents vehicles and apparently too many cars were brought. It all got sorted out.

It was an interesting drive through the mountains passing by many mosques and some new housing developments. 

from the ship

on the road to the Fort

camels in the pickup

Nizwa Gate

The Nizwa Souq is a local marketplace that offers a variety of goods including jewelry, pottery, fish, and meats. We started by tasting many types of dates before buying a couple of kinds. Then we moved to another one where we tasted some sweets. We wandered past many stalls selling various things, and I found my token magnet of Oman before we moved on to see the Fort. I passed a magnet of Nizwa that I said I'd go back for if I didn't see it again. I thought the fort might have a gift shop.

It was clear that the new couples weren't able to walk for very long or take any steps. It really slowed the group down. I always make it clear that mobility is required for certain tours. (forts have lots of steps so it seemed self-explanatory) 

Today, the fort is a museum that showcases the history of the fort and surrounding area. This impressive fortress was a base used in the military to hold off the hardest attacks and sieges. We have been to many forts and thought this one was very well done. There were many areas with videos and displays that really helped understand what we were seeing. Our guide also was informative and guided us around in the correct order. There were also some great views from the top.

I went back for my magnet of one of the fort doors and they wouldn't take USD. The driver that came with me paid for it and I paid him in USD. Very nice of him!

at the souk

we tested almost all of them & bought a couple of bags

food tasting at the spice souk

spices

walking to the fort

entry to the fort

Cathy & June

me taking a photo of Greg (Tom next to me Mark taking a photo Roberta with her back to the camera and Horst going down the stairs

Greg taking a photo of us

Roberta waving (June is obscured) 

the group looking SO interested lol

walking to lunch

Next, we went to a wonderful lunch. It was a choice of 3 types of chicken or fish. We split the grilled (which was dry) and one they said was spicy, but it wasn't, but it was moist and tasty. All meals were served with a starter of chicken broth which was very good and 3 different types of rice. Bread came around but we didn't get any before it was time to go. 

chicken broth

three kinds of rice

chicken

We then went to Al Hamra village to experience how the locals lived in the older times. Then we stopped at Misfath al Abreen, a truly pristine village that nestles at the base of Jebel Shams to see the large Falaj water system that supplies water to the nearby vegetation. It took a long time for the new couples to navigate the stairs and the walkways. At one point we had to cross over the water system which I did easily and I'm not graceful, but they needed help.

water delivery system

boy swimming in it

We now had to cut short the last 2 things we were supposed to see. I was fine with that as it was more important that we get back to the ship on time. We missed the lush date plantation that we were supposed to visit once the guide saw how long it took some to navigate the other areas. We had already agreed not to go up to the top of Jebel Akhdar, also known as the Green Mountain (2000 meters above sea level). Jebel Akhdar houses many fruit plantations and rose gardens. We were to have time to walk about here, but our port time was just too short. 

drive back to the port

back on the ship

henna tattoo from Dubai

magnets

We made it back in plenty of time and we ate upstairs at the buffet. We went to the show which was Comedy Magic by Ben Woodward. It was neither comedy or magic and was the stupidest thing we have ever sat through. The crowd did seem to laugh. UGH.

Anyway, we were tired from many days of touring, so we came back to the cabin to upload some photos. 

Now for 5 sea days! (as I write this this is the last of the 5 days and we have Aqaba, Jordan tomorrow) 

I have had no time to even look at the photos we took in India, much less organize them to put up on the Google Albums. 

Muscat, Oman - Nizwa Round Tower & Souks https://photos.app.goo.gl/UrYen2B6DQwNNsHv8

Tomorrow, a relaxing sea day!