We stayed in a hotel for a couple of weeks, while all of the paperwork was finalised and our stuff was trucked down. We tried to make the most out of it, but oh Lordy it was still SO hot. And hotels are nice for a weekend, but, especially with an active toddler, they lose their appeal quickly. And this one refuses to sleep in any bed except her parents' when they go away, which we concede to because we all know she'll be in her own bed once we get home. :)
We spent the first weekend getting to know a little more of Muscat. We had a family outing to the Muttrah (or Mutrah) Souq (or Souk)... in the translation from Arabic to English a lot of words are given different spellings, which makes it awfully confusing!
A souq is a market in Arabic, and this one is one of the biggest tourist attractions in the country. It's located in the Muttrah Corniche, which is right at the port of Muscat. Oman was traditionally a trading country with India and some African countries, and you can still see dhow boats (traditionally trading vessels but now sometimes venues for cruises) in the water.
Anyway... the Souq is made up of a vast collection of shops, from traditional Omani and Indian clothes and fabrics to trinkets to jewellery to cheap, plastic toys to cooking utensils to spice shops, food shops, and perfumeries. Bargaining is expected, which is of course a little confronting to the hapless Westerner who just wants to buy a little souvenir but finds themselves having to knock down the price from enterprising store owners.
Still, the atmosphere is great, the smells are enticing, the shops are plentiful, and the souq itself is a maze that you could literally get lost in for hours.
I was 5 months pregnant here and feeling it!
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