Muscat Oman, Fujairah UAE and Abu Dhabi UAE

We are winding down.  In port in Dubai, what a way to end.  Tea at the Burj Hotel this afternoon and disembarkation tomorrow.  The past few days have been busy and fun:

Oman found us in the city of Muscat which is beautiful.  Unlike the other big name cities in this area this is a city of low rise buildings in keeping with the desert landscape.  It is the second cleanest city in the world.  While it keeps its Arabic heritage in tact it also has a touch of modern thinking evidenced by it's art galleries and women's rights in schools and public office.  Oh what a day we had...First stop was the fort--an hours drive out of the city center so we got to see some country side.  The fort was quite interesting and nicely renovated to display period furnitures and living.  The views of date orchards and local village were stunning.  We drove through the village to a mountain spring oasis.  Families were there enjoying the warm waters, cool shade and favorable picnic sites.  We all put our toes in the water to get a fish nibbling pedicure--quite fun and it tickled.

And then drama began.  A woman fell and hit her head on the curb.  It bled as head wounds do so she looked pretty ragged, covered in blood and mud.  Two docs on the bus helped out and got her wound cleaned and covered and advised her to head back to the ship.  She wanted to stay with the tour so after 1/2 waiting we all took off.  20 minutes out of town Sue and I spelled the engine from the back of the bus and shortly there after we were stranded on the side of the highway.  Remember how hot we keep saying it is, sitting in a closed bus is even hotter.  45 minutes later we had a replacement bus and off to the remainder of the tour.  Stopped outside a mosque for a photo stop, wished we could have gone inside.  Then we went to the ship and convinced the woman to see the doctor after which she could meet up with us if she wished.  Off to the Ritz palace hotel--WOW.  Had a terrific buffet lunch and enjoyed the beauty of the lobby.  It was a former palace converted to a hotel.  Met a group of Indian people in the lobby from all the over the world.  Had a great conversation and got invited to their classical Indian music concert.  Unfortunately we were on our way to Abu Dhabi.  Next stop the souk to shop, not much to be had.  Our wounded fellow traveler returned to the group no worse for the wear--after five stitches and a tetanus shot.  Back to the ship.

Came to port in Fujairah the next morning.  We were amazed by the number of oil tankers waiting to enter port for loading or unloading--4-5 hundred was the predominant estimate.  We found out later the loading there means they do not have to spend $35,000 to navigate the Straights of Hermuz.  We have never so many ships.

Our trip today was a mountain safari, actually back into the northern part of Oman.  1 1/2 hour drive out of town then onto the gravel road into the mountain and canyons.  Past goats and Bedouin camps on our way to 3600 ft.  Sue's favorite was the goat in the tree.  The mountain trip reminded us of Sedona, Arches national park and the Grand Canyon.  Beautiful geological formations.  Stopped at the top for a quick refreshment break--guess what, for once it was not hot!!  Back down we went...good thing we were in four wheel drive vehicles.

Abu Dhabi is the richest of the emirates.  20% of the population is native and 80% foreigners.  We went to a museum which showcased development plans for the new Louvre, Guggenheim and National galleries on a previously undeveloped island.  Also in the plans are golf courses, hotels (St Regis is already there), resorts and villas.  Should be quite amazing when completed.  The Guggenheim will be the largest museum in the world and was designed by Geary.  The architecture is new and modern contrasting with ornate palaces and hotels.  The ocean front promenade is lovely and full of activity and families.  And then it rained, and rained some more.  Unusual for the desert and it was finally cool.  We thought of our friend Jill because of the number of Bentleys, Ferrari, and Lamborghini cars to name a few.

What a gorgeous mosque--absolutely stunning.  The previous Abu Dhabi king and one of the founders of the UAE built the mosque with his own money.  It has 84 domes, largest hard tied carpet in the world, chandeliers from Germany and white marble from China and Italy.  WOW.  Can't even express how breath taking it was.  Sue said it reminded her a bit of the Taj Mahal with it's inlay world on the walls, floors and columns.





Back to the ship for dinner and set said for Dubai.  It is hot today....and so it goes.

We have plans to blog after Dubai adventures we are here for two more days.
Cheers.