It was a long day and I was feeling a little cramped and making dinner when Eli came in and said "Would you want to go to the souq tonight?" YES! That sounded like fun. I needed to get out. Not everyone wanted to go so the 4 of us headed out late to check prices on spices for Eli to take back to school with him. Another bucket list item. I missed the first trip being sick and didn't know what to expect. It was quite warm but lively. I was pleasantly surprised that there were loads of really interesting things to buy at Mutrah Souq. Mutrah is, I believe, Old Muscat. It's on the water and even in the dark one of the Sultan's 2 yachts stood out docked in the tiny harbor. There were also beautiful traditional fishing boats and a military giant making it a fairly full waterway. There are endless shops to explore, some inside winding covered alleyways some outside on curbed streets. We loved the spice shops with their boxes and bags of interesting petals and barks and seeds. Saffron.
ENORMOUS Cinnamon Sticks
Dried Lemons. Technically, all the shops say "NO PHOTOS". So I don't really know where to draw the line. I didn't take many photos and push my luck. I did ask a couple of shop owners if it was ok and they said yes so maybe it's not a serious sign? I guess we'll see.
Alena loved shopping. She bought gifts for friends back home and she's been shopping for a middle eastern knife. Some of the shop owners know a lot about their products and can explain in English. Some don't and can't but Matt and I love to find out where the products are made. We fell in love with a Syrian shop and bought a few things from them. I plan to go back for a blown glass Christmas Camel in a couple of months.
I'm kind of in love with Omani doors. It's a"thing" here. Most people-not us-have charming doors and gates. I'm trying to figure out how to get permission for a family picture in front of the Pakistani Embassy around the corner from our house. It's illegal to take pictures of embassy's I'm told so nobody seems to like my idea. I just think, surely they wouldn't mind if we just get the door and not anything else?! I want to bring home a door or two. Alena thinks chain mail, helmets and swords are what she wants. Double date with my oldest boy and girl? Yes please!
In case we need a pot big enough to cook an entire camel or something.
We got out of the heat for a little treat. This is an Omani specialty, layered juices with ice cream. Mango, Coconut and pistachio ice cream over strawberry-banana, avocado, mango, papaya and pomegranate juices. SO YUMMY! The fort we parked by is beautiful at night-Mutrah Fort. Matt practically did Elise in making her climb up there on a ridiculously hot day(see previous post).
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