This post is also available in:
Italiano (Italian)
Arriving in Oman, while considering what to do in Muscat, I waited in vain for the hotel shuttle. Little harm because my sixth sense had assumed Plan B.
For the last time in my life, I chose to be without a local sim and use the phone only with wifi.I would always love to have the excuse to be unreachable. Aided by my off-line map and information gathered at the time, I took a comfortable and cool bus. Already early in the morning and despite it being December 26, it was in fact scorching hot. It was clear to me what to do in Muscat, go to the waterfront.
What to do in Muscat. Mostly stroll along the waterfront
After a quick stop at the hotel and ascertaining about the adjacent Indian restaurant where I later went for dinner, I headed by bus to the Mutrah location, which is in fact the modern center (although there are no skyscrapers).
Along the Corniche (the waterfront) in a half-hour walk I saw the fish market and souk. Cruise ships spoil the scenery a bit. The cackling groups of fellow citizens growl and make the vendors who try to peddle anything even more annoying. I, on the other hand, just want to enjoy the colors and smell the smells and am not at all a good buyer of items, much less souvenirs. For many on what to do in Muscat there is only the market, instead I enjoyed the waterfront walk more.
The blue of sea and sky, contrast with the ochre of the high, bare mountains that surround the city. It immediately jumps out how, at least in the capital, it seems that we are not in an arid country. In fact, they have solved the issue of water that they desalinate from the sea, and so they have water mains with drinking water and many drinking fountains even on the streets, as well as lush green lawns, manicured gardens, and multicolored plants and flowers.
The sultan
After a quick lunch with first enjoyable pomegranate juice, I headed for the Palace of Sultan Haytham bin Ṭāriq. His predecessor Qābūs, who died in 2020, in a 50-year reign, brought modernity (without the excesses of his neighbors) and prosperity to his country. Skirting the palace to see it from behind as well, I even ran into the sultan himself as he was leaving in a car with an escort and loyalists greeting him.
Home of the trip It never rains in Oman anyway – Oman and the Emirates
Next stop Travel setback – flooded in the Arabian Peninsula
Trips taken, travel stories divided by continent
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.