I didn’t have a tour in Muscat, Oman so we took the shuttle into town on our own. Just Joan and I. We, of course, went to a souk ( here it is spelled Suq) and this one was just a general one but after awhile the shops become redundant . I did buy a very light weight top to wear when we go to see Petra in Jordan. The dress code is v ery strict and I wanted something airy but it would cover my arms. We are still scheduled to go there but we do have one change. The Captain has added Safaga, Egypt to our itinerary so people who want to take tours to Valley of the Kings, Karnak, and Luxor will be able to do so.

After the Souk we stopped at several other shops hoping to find the elusive key chain. One of the shops looked quite good for such an item so we went in. They kept going upstairs to find other key chains but they didn’t have OMAN written on any of them. I finally got across the one of the salesmen that I wanted the word OMAN on it. He then ran to the back and took his key off his personal key chain and sold it to me for $5.00. He knew I was captive and he wouldn’t dicker. So, I do have a used key chain at a cost of $5.00.

Later Joan and I joined Marcia and Deke and we rented a driver for a couple of hours and took a tour of Muscat. These Gazelles were at the museum. Last year in Peru I spotted cows but this is the first time I saw painted gazelles.

I have included the largest Mosque and one of the oldest. We also visited an old fort in the walled city and a new signature hotel of Hyatt. I do believe it is even more elaborate inside than the Bur Al Arab in Dubai.

Our driver was really good and told us a lot about the Sultan who is very much loved. No one knows how many wives he has or how many children he has. Top secret. They have no unrest in Oman.

We also went to Salalah, Oman but it was not a promising place to go without a tour. Just got off the ship and went to a couple of shops within the port.