Muscat 2. Arcadia in Oman.

Nizwa trinkets for sale.

Nizwa Fort walls.

Quayside activity........

Look out over Nizwa

The Grand Mosque

AIDA Diva in port with Arcadia. AIDA is a sister company geared for the German Market. Looks very colourful.

A traditional welcome.

Get your cannon out!

Local craftsmanship for sale.

The bus driver.

Traditional Omani greeting.

Good Day!

Here is another post on Muscat - thanks to Graham Howell for getting out and about on our Shore Excursion - there is a world out there once you get down the gangway!

Another busy day yesterday in Dubai - all went well and it was exciting to see passengers rejoin who has disembarked Arcadia at Mumbai. Also some well known faces returning to Arcadia for the homeward leg of this amazing Grand Voyage. The weather in Dubai was overcast and even the odd shower of rain! How dare it rain on Arcadia! It was interesting and rather sad to see the old QE2 tied up along side, just ahead of Arcadia with no where to go, awaiting whatever will happen next. No life around her and no lights on at dusk - just a shadow of her former glory.

You see it is the passengers and the Ship's Company that bring these metal ships to life and create the wonderful magic that is 'Shipboard Life'. It cannot be bottled, bagged, frozen or canned, it has to be experienced on a daily basis!! When Canberra came out of service, Lord Sterling made the right decision and had the ship broken up. I once visited the Queen Mary in Long Beach, California which was interesting but again once the ship is sitting in concrete with no engines - it is not a ship in my mind. Ship's need to be cruising and continually on the move.

I enjoyed my quick run in and out of the city centre with Jenny our Loyalty and Cruise Sales Manager - we were in some posh shops but with the exchange rate as it is there were no major purchases made........so short was our time in the afternoon that I think I will have to come back here for a long weekend - it is only a 6.5 hours flight from the UK. Where else does one go for weekends these days?? Any suggestions?...........

Here is Graham's report..........

Omani greeting and the troupe of local men sang and waved their swords to offer a musical greeting as well. In the Nizwa Souq we were able to see first hand the many trinkets and age old crafts being offered for sale. All too soon it was time to leave colourful Nizwa as our coach driver asked us to re board our coach and we headed back to the fantastic sight of the Grand Mosque in Muscat. This building complex is relatively new and was paid for by the Sultan of Oman, certainly a grand setting for a Grand Mosque. No time to go in unfortunately so that pleasure will have to be saved for another time. I must say that our visit to Oman was most enjoyable and certainly whetted many peoples appetite to come back.

Thank you Graham!

That's all for now, thanks for all your lovely messages, I wish I could reply to them all personally - perhaps one day when I am a full time blogger!! Anyhow keep them coming.

Five days at sea now - how lovely. Need to start packing soon.

Bye meantime - back soon with Dubai!

James.

Most kids are excited to be alive - they jump out of bed and believe they can do anything. Unfortunately, a lot of them lose that feeling.

Benjamin V