Oman: Muscat

I couldn't tell you why, but I am fascinated by the Arab world. I am constantly drawn to all things Arab. I don't know but four or so words of Arabic, I haven't studied it, I don't have many friends from these places, but for whatever reason I feel like I've always got my bookmark in the Arab pages of my mind. Perhaps because it has become such a hot point in global relations of the last decade, and what for many seems forbidden and even feared has for me become so accessible, and not just geographically. Having visited so many Muslim nations I feel rather at ease with this culture and its customs.

Admittedly the primary aim for this particular trip was sun! I had no idea just how wise this plan was when I booked it 10 months ago. Coming out of one of the worst winters on record (well, it's April and we're still not done!), finding sun and warmth has felt critical! It's a desperate longing after so many months of grey, cold! Dubai was the main destination, but I wasn't flying 8ish hours down to the southeastern part of the middle east without hitting one other nearby destination. With still months before the trip I religiously checked fares for various options that would include another nearby country. I was letting good flights and airfare dictate this, and would have been happy with a variety of other nearby Middle Eastern countries. But I was kind of hoping Oman would be the option that worked best, and after weeks upon weeks of daily fare checks for various routes I stumbled upon a great itinerary with a great fare that included Oman and Dubai. Nobody else but a total travel planning geek like me will care about this detail, but there you have it!

With just two full days to explore Oman we based ourselves in the capital of Muscat. We devoted the first day to seeing the sights in around the city. We had a great guide, and ended the day feeling like we had gotten a great overview of this city.

Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque

The twin to Istanbul's Blue Mosque

Muscat Souk

Muscat Corniche

Traditional Omani dining

Views around Muscat

Sultan's Palace

How To Do the London Blitz Tour

So what do you do when your brother comes to visit for the first time ever and only has one day for London?  I call it the London blitz tour.  Unless you've been to London you may not appreciate the scope of the tour, but here goes . . .

We arrived Waterloo station and headed for the London Eye.  After a ride around the Eye, we walked over Westminster bridge for that supreme view of Big Ben.  From here we walked to Westminster Abbey, and took a tour of the Abbey.  Then we walked up Whitehall, waving to the Prime Minister on Downing Street ending at Trafalgar Square.  We watched a little street entertainment before our whirlwind tour of the great highlights of the National Gallery.  After we stopped for lunch at one of my favourite lunching spots in the West End.  We took a quick walk down Cecil Court, AKA book sellers alley.  Then we stopped at one of my favourite bakeries to get some take away French pastries to eat on the square at Covent Garden.  After our French treats we shopped the markets at Covent Garden.  From here we took our market finds and headed to Leicester Square, through China town and over to Piccadilly Circus.  Then we walked down Piccadilly, past the Ritz, and through Green Park down to see the Queen at Buckingham Palace.  Then we walked back up through Green Park and hopped on the tube to NW8 to show Chad our old hood.  After we stopped by our old flat, we walked by the kids' old school and then swung over for a little Beatles moment crossing Abbey Road over the famous Abbey Road zebra crossing.  From there it was back on the tube to head down to southbank, getting off at London Bridge for a stroll through Borough Market before walking along the Thames, then walking across the beautiful Tower Bridge.  After crossing Tower Bridge we visited the Tower of London for a gander at the crown jewels.  From here we got on a bus towards St. Paul's.  First we crossed Millennium Bridge for a look across the Thames to the Tate and Shakespeare's Globe.  We headed back to St. Paul's for a quick look, and then it was dinner time.  We walked down the street to Fleet Street for an old world pub dinner at Ye Old Cheshire Cheese.  After a nice dinner we got back on the bus to Trafalgar Square, hopped off the bus there and walked back down Whitehall, past a beautifully illuminated Big Ben, over Westminster Bridge, past the London Eye finishing where we started at Waterloo.  And that my friends is the London blitz tour!  Whew!



























































With one day for non city exploits we took a tour of our neighbourhood palace, Hampton Court Palace, and made a visit in the freezing rain to Stonehenge.
























It is so great having my brother here.  It means so, so much to me to have been able to share my favourite city with him, but mostly just to share a piece of our life here.  I hope this is just the first of more visits to come!