Where in the World are Bill and Bob?

Fujairah is one of the seven Emirates - and the second smallest - that make up the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the only one not bordering the Persian Gulf as it sits entirely on the Gulf of Oman. Oddly (?) its capital is Fujairah! A brief taxi tour went to the 16-27th century Fujairah Fort, the huge Sheikh Zayed mosque, past old markets and modern malls, and the corniche with Umbrella Beach and tourist hotels. But all in all, the city seemed a little sleepy.

Dubai, the capital of the Emirate of Dubai, is the most populous and developed of the seven emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Originally a small pearl fishing village it exploded in the 20th century into a luxury tourist hub with stunning architecture hugging the Arabian Gulf. The first of our two days included a desert extravaganza with a falcon demonstration, female belly dancers, male whirling dervishes, and of course a feast fit for emirs! Our second day was spent in the world’s largest mall (with 1,200 high end stores) on a hunt for Apple Store to (unsuccessfully) back up phone, replenish liquor, buy flowers, and eat schwarma (mid-eastern roasted chicken sandwiches). And of course, I had to go up the Burg Khalifa, at 2,717 feet, the world’s tallest building.  

Muscat, the capital of Oman, has been an important trading port since the first century AD. The Al Hajar Mountains surround the city and provide a dramatic backdrop to low lying white - mostly modern -buildings that typify the urban landscape. A taxi tour took us inland to the huge Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, one of the largest in the world which can host up to 20,000 worshippers, the royal palace on the coast, the royal opera house, and the Muttrah Souk where Bill bought a thobe (like a nightshirt). Because he was wearing shorts, he “rented” a thobe to go inside the mosque, then decided to buy one later in the souk (maze-like market). The mosque The palace The royal opera house The souk City views

 Salalah, a hot and arid port on the Arabian Sea at the southern end of the Arabian peninsula, is the third largest city in Oman. It was/is famous for frankincense, its maritime history, and its role in the spice trade. During a brief tour I saw the Sultan’s palace, spice souk (market), Sultan Qaboos Mosque, banana plantations, and some very modern buildings including a gigantic shopping mall. It was the Eid, the feast marking the end of Ramadan, so the city was deserted and most shops were closed. Bill stayed on the ship because it was so hot.

We took a short cruise from Mahé to La Digue, another of the Seychelles islands, famous for its beaches and laid back atmosphere. We anchored offshore, tendered  in, and walked about a half mile to a deserted beach with powdery white sands and crystalline waters. Weather was HOT, so after a dip (really a wade, since it is very shallow) we had a local beer at a beach bar, returned to the boat and set sail for Oman.