Muscat, Oman ~ June 22

Welcome to the Sultanate of Oman and the Muscat capital area. After a smooth flight from Zurich in a well appointed Swiss Air Bus, we touched down at 10:30 PM Sunday, cleared customs, and checked into our hotel by midnight to rest before starting our program Monday morning at 9:30. We are lucky, the temperature is a mild 98 degrees, after a high of 130 the week before. Our hotel is only a short walk to the beach, and as an early riser, I take a walk on the beach and do some shelling. Searching for the illusive cowry, I found one after taking only a few steps and hope to find a few more.

After 24 hours my impressions are captured in these images. Muscat and the towns that comprise the capital area are experiencing growth and construction - new government buildings a new Opera House, shopping malls (the ubiquitous Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts, KFC, McDonalds). There are expansive green areas and well irrigated lawns with flowers (zinnias) and flowering trees line the roads tended by hosts of foreign workers. The city sparkles in white stucco dress and the architecture includes the distinctive arch embedded with a postmodern flair. There are super “dual-carriageway” highways with fly-overs, and round-about (terms courtesy of the British influence). Although the most popular car appears to be by Toyota, Nissan, Hyundai, Mazda, there is an occasional Honda, Mercedes, and BMW. Some cars sport the distinctive learner stripes as more Omani obtain their license, women among them.

Our first stop is the American Embassy for a briefing by the Assistant Public Affairs Officer. The embassy (no photos allowed) is fortified and well guarded (I saw local guards, no US Marines, but perhaps there are some), as expected it took a while to register and get though security. Once inside the inner courts have lovely lawns and flowers. Clearly the PA office understands the importance of the Fulbright summer program. The acting Chief of Mission (the new Ambassador arrives shortly) stopped in to greet us and take questions – we are encouraged to interact with the Omani people and learn as much as possible, while observing local protocols and courtesies – cordial and informative visit.

After an additional orientation presentation at the recently opened AMIDEAST Oman office we had lunch at the Automatic: Al Qurum (Lebanese) and took at tour of the city in our comfortable van. We stopped for photos at His Majesty Sultan’s Palace, drove to Muttrah (Old Muscat) along the Corniche and Sultan Qaboos Port where the Sultan’s yacht is anchored along with other private boats, container ships, and colorful fishing vessels. There is a park enjoyed by families and a vendor selling cotton candy – everything is spotless – the city has a global reputation for cleanliness and must be one of the cleanest cities I have visited.

At the end of our tour we took tea at the Al Bustan Palace Hotel, 7 stars, recently renovated with a fantastic marble, crystal, and mosaic lobby – complete with an elegant violin, piano, cello trio of playing Mozart and Strauss, and an Omani gentleman in the traditional dress worn throughout the area enjoying tea, chatting with guests, and offering one of the sweet dates for which the area is famous. Here I also found the first item on my shopping list COMMON BIRDS OF OMAN so am all set to continue my bird list.

The day ended with a visit at the Al Baranda Museum, with exhibits on the history of the city from earliest times to the present (marvelous map room), followed by a formal Omani dinner (25 different dishes) – we dined seated on cushions at low tables.