Muscat, Oman

Our second port in Oman is the country’s capital city, Muscat, population about 1.4 million. We’d never been here so, given the heat (daytime high of 32 Celsius) we felt it was wise to take a morning ship excursion before it got too hot. The tour took us to Grand Sultan Qaboos Mosque (the only one allowing entry to non-muslims in the Middle East), Bait Al Zubair Museum, Muttrah Souq, and the Sultan’s Palace.

The city’s buildings are overwhelmingly white and sprawling with few skyscrapers. The tallest building in Muscat is the largest minaret of the Grand Mosque. There are gorgeous landscaped gardens throughout the city. Our guide was able to not only provide historical information but also insights into life in a Sultanate.Read more