(^34) Muscat and surrounding areas
Lois hauled me out of bed and announced we were driving up the
mountain. The drive was spectacular and featured hazy views far in
the distance, and I was grateful for being in a car and not on a
bicycle. A long, steep walk down the mountain brought us to an old,
abandoned village where well-preserved mud-brick houses clung
desperately to the mountainside. Then, a hot, sweaty walk finally
spat us out at the car.
Later, we had refreshments at an upmarket hotel offering spectacular
views of the mountains and the small villages far below. One could
barely make out the tiny, luminous green terraces used for farming.
We then proceeded along the nearly vertical mountain road to Nizwa,
sporting an imposing fort and fascinating souq. This huge souq sold
the whole caboodle, from vegetables to livestock and almost anything
in-between, from beautiful pottery products to antique-looking
jewellery, and even guns.
Back in Muscat, the days came and went, and I spent my time mostly
sampling all of Oman’s exotic dishes. The hop-on-hop-off Big Bus city
tour around Muscat was money well spent as one got to see all
Muscat had to offer in a matter of a day. In the process, I met
another cyclist biking around Oman, mainly following the Oman Cycle
Tour.
leana
(Leana)
#1