Oh my, OMAN!

For anyone who read my posts about Bahrain, you know I love the Middle East culture when it does not involve wearing an abaya, and possibly includes hooch :-)  I have loved my weekend jaunts to Bahrain, and the shopping....OFF THE CHAIN!  My weekend trips to Bahrain provided much necessary relief from my life in Saudi and the chance to take a bath or sleep in a comfortable bed...priceless.  Not all teachers are required to leave every month, but almost all are required to leave at least once every six months, and most are required to go to Oman at least once to get a new visa.  Every single teacher who has been to Oman said that, while Bahrain was nice, WAIT until you see OMAN!  I did my research and made sure to find the best souk and I went ahead and rented a car.
Because the flight was 3 hours or so, I paid the extra to upgrade.  The flight was empty, but it was nice to spend time in the first class lounge before leaving and the meal was nice when I got on board.

 I was given a choice of hotels and I chose the one closest to the beach, as opposed to closer to town.  My hotel also had a bar IN the hotel, so I was good.  My pleas for a real tub once again got me an upgrade to a mini suite.  I am awesome at this!

WHO THE FU@K puts a scale in a bathroom at a hotel near the beach????

I was extremely glad I sprang for the rental car!  The airfare and hotel were paid for, but I actually saved money on the cost of taxis by getting a car.  The company reimbursed me the cost of the cab fare to and from the hotel so I got a small part of my money back.  My first night I arrived about 9:00 pm and after I dropped my bags, had a cocktail in the lounge at the hotel.  I was probably in bed by 11 and the bed was uber comfy....I was in heaven!  I arrived on Saturday and was not due to leave until Tuesday night.  I was contacted by the visa man at 9:30 and after I got my docs in order, I was able to head to STARBUCKS!

The view from Starbucks was amazing.  Drinking coffee by the water is the only way to relax.

The pictures do not do this country justice.  It is green, clean, and beautiful.  I am sorry I did not get any pics of the souk I went to because it was a crazy cool back alley kind of place, and yes, I got lost more then once.  I had a great time and cannot wait to go back.  Like Bahrain, they do not make me wear an abaya, but their abaya's are kinda cool.  They look like a long dress with a jacket over it and one button at the chest.  I was too tired and didn't have time to get one made or altered or I might have bought one.  I did manage to find some amazing easter eggs made in Turkey that I used for the Easter baskets the bunny left around the dorms.  I baked bread as well,