Winding roads

Hello from Nizwa again! We are back from two days in the mountains!

There is something about being up in the mountains, with all that fresh air, altitude (we were up at 3000 meters), just you and the elements, that makes you feel free and full of life. As we lay on our mattresses last night, propped up against cushions, in a Arabian tent at the top of a mountain peak, we reflected on how good life was. How much we had to be grateful for. And how much fun it was to be four mountain divas making the most of our time in Oman! : )

We had some fantastic hikes - a 3 hour hike that started us at Diana's view (named from Princess Diana's visits to Oman) and which brought us through 3 villages winding through the alleys and houses, through rose bushes and terraced gardens, and along falajs. The second hike was another 3 hours that took us along the rim of the Grand Canyon of Oman (Jabal Shams). It was spectacular and freaky! We were right on the edge of a huge cliff the entire time. It was an out and back hike that brought us to an abandoned village of 15 families - tucked away in the crevass of a mountain wall - near a waterfall. It was a feast for the senses.

Both hikes were food for my soul - giving me a chance to pretend I was like the goats that we walked past - running up steep, rocky sections, until my heart pounded, sweating under the scorching hot sun, and soaking up the views.

We arrived back in Nizwa around 3pm, and found the most delicious Turkish restaurant - Al Masharef! Brilliant food, huge quantities, that we gorged on until our eyes were at half mast and our stomachs were aching. After eating, we arrived at our Al Diyar just in time to meet Ali! He had flown in from Bahrain to meet us!

We are off to Nizwa souq tonight for some shopping and exploring. Tomorrow at 7am is the infamous Friday morning animal market and another wadi exploration before we head back to Muscat. The clock is ticking, so we are trying to pack in as MUCH as we can before we have to leave.

Bye for now!
~Lala