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Italy, Greece and Oman
  • Joann Pyne
  • Joann Pyne

Italy, Greece and Oman

Two months in southern Europe with a collection of friends Leia mais
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  • Joann PyneItaly, Greece and OmanViajante

    Verona

    24 de outubro, Itália ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C

    Called into Verona to catch up with Linda again. What a great city. We will be coming back here for a longer stay. Visited the Ancient Arena, which is still used today for concerts and had the best brunch at Linda's favourite deli. We chose the cheese, meat, bread and accompaniments, threw in a bottle of prosecco and ate it on their back veranda beside the river.Leia mais

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  • Joann PyneItaly, Greece and OmanViajante
    Ancient burial moundsA portrait exhibitionThe palaceThe fortsThe soul

    Muscat

    25–29 de out., Omã ⋅ ☀️ 31 °C

    We arrived in Oman at stupid o’clock this morning. Thankfully they let us check into the room so we had a shower, a nap, breakfast , and then hit the road. We visited the very large, very grand and very comprehensive Museum of Oman. It was pretty spectacular. We then looked at the two forts that guard this very modern and wealthy city. At sunset we visited the large Muscat Souk. The ceilings were amazing. We got a t-shirt but no gold jewellery. LOLLeia mais

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  • Joann PyneItaly, Greece and OmanViajante
    The entrance to the date souk
    Fort entranceThe murder holeThe Sultans roomPano of the fortThe date storeLen, me, and 1000 disapointed OmanisWhat we thought we would seeLen enjoying dinner at Bait Al restaurant

    Nizwa

    26 de outubro, Omã ⋅ ☀️ 32 °C

    Nizwa is an ancient capital of Oman. It’s about a two-hour drive across some really amazing highways. We passed some beautiful date farms and other dots of green spaces along the way. The main attractions at NIZWA are the fort and the souk. The fort has been completely renovated and looks as it would have in the 17th century. It has lots of interesting elements - like ‘murder holes’ - holes in the floor right after a door to capture intruders. There was also a date store where the dates were stored in 70 kg bags made of woven date palms. The bags were so tightly secured that the juice would ooze out and be collected for use in the kitchens - or for boiling and pouring over invaders trying to get into the fort!

    The souk was laid out with seperate buildings for meat, vegetables, kitchenware and another just for dates. The other important product sold in the souk is Frankincense. The world’s best Frankincense is said to come from Salalah in the south of Oman.

    When we got back to Oman, we went to Al Bustan beach to see the amazing bio phosphorescence as reported on facebook. Nada - the sea was clear of any algae! Afterwards we had dinner at a popular restaurant in the old town.    Leia mais

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  • Joann PyneItaly, Greece and OmanViajante
    The Oman Museum at nightThe Oman Palace

    Opera House and the Grand Mosque

    27 de outubro, Omã ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C

    Today we explored the opulance of Muscat. We started the day early at the grand mosque. As expected it was amazing, as it is built to accommodate 20,000 worshipers A major feature is the prayer carpet which covers the huge floor of the prayer hall. It contains 1.7 million knots, weighs 21 tonnes and took four years to produce with over 600 workers. The other spectacular element in the interior is the chandelier. At 14-metres-high it fits nicely into the mosque which is 90 metres high, it was the world's largest chandelier, prior to the 2018 completion of a Mosque in Abu Dhabi.

    We also visited the Royal Opera House which has a very impressive program. Tickets range from $40AUD to $280 each depending on the seat and the show. So very accessible for most people, however we then paid $25AUD for two coffees at the coffee shop!    Leia mais

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  • Joann PyneItaly, Greece and OmanViajante

    Oman

    28 de outubro, Omã ⋅ ☀️ 32 °C

    Our four day stopover in Oman has been great. We probably should have done more research to get more out of the trip. But would be happy to come back for another stopover. It’s a very very laid back and friendly country, with people ready to share a joke and a smile. There is also plenty to see and do. The south boarders onto Yemen and is actually very green. So we are keen to explore that area. The food has been interesting and as a major trading port for 1000s of years, there is a real mix of influences. The coffee is another interesting experience. It’s very weak as it is drunk in small cups all day. The flavour of coffee is not as strong as it is flavoured with rose water and spices, and usually accompanied by one or two dates. There was a coffee/date station in the foyer of the hotel that was in hot demand most of the day. Oman is also the home of high quality Frankincense. It is a resin from the Boswellia tree which grows particularly well in parts of
    Oman. We have bought a large bag home with us - we will declare it at customs check it is okay to bring in.    Leia mais

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    Final da viagem
    31 de outubro de 2025