Thursday we were in Muscat, Oman. Oman is a Sultanate on the south-east end of the Arabian Peninsula. I was not sure what to expect in this city and I was surprised to find it is modern and clean. This is one of the most photogenic cities I have ever been to. The sail-in early in the morning was beautiful with all the mountains, the rugged shoreline and all the sites visible from the ship. We found that there was another cruise ship, the MSC Splendida (max 3900 passengers) in port with us. Also, the Sultan's two yachts were also docked in the harbor.
The Sultan had declared a 2 day holiday so there were many more people that normal on the streets and in the markets. Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said has been in power for 48 years. He has no heirs so they don't know who he has chosen to succeed him when he dies
Our excursion was on the local Hop-on Hop-off bus. The bus picked up up at the ship and we took one complete loop around to see many of the sites (about 1 3/4 hours). At the end, we went to the Mutrah Suq, one of the oldest markets in Oman, It is over 200 years old.
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| watching the sunrise |
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| a view of the Sultan's Palace in a bay |
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| Sailing into Muscat |
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| the Incense Burner |
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| Al Mirani Fort |
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| The Sultan's 2 yachts |
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| a fountain |
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| Mutrah Al Marani Fort (17th century) overlooks the harbor |
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| An old ship in front of 2 much newer ones |
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| the Corniche road |
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| the Corniche road |
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| a traffic circle fountain |
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| Royal Opera House |
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| Al Jalali Fort |
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| the marina |
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| The Sultan's Palace |
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| the water side of the Royal Palace |
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| Al Marani Fort |
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| 3 ships in a row, front - Sultan's yacht, mi ddle, - ms Amsterdasm, back - MSC Spendida |
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| main entrance to the Suq |
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| the Sultan's name is on the port |
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| fort lite at nightAdd caption |
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| saling away at dusk |
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