Abu Dhabi has preserved only one of its forts -- and that fort is barely preserved (as our friends, visiting from Chicago, can attest....we scrambled through construction to take a look at a few of its exposed walls).
Does this story grow old? Yes, Oman has forts. And they are gorgeous, and huge, and interesting, and exquisitely preserved.
They make for crazy silhouettes on the city's wonderfully dramatic cliffs.
Some, the Portuguese built. Others, are Omani. Which, you ask? We wouldn't know. The only real fault we managed to find with Muscat is the impossibility of visiting even one of its many forts. But in a city with friendly locals and wide-open beaches....
...souqs that are distinctly different from malls....
...menus full of items like "shrimp cheese burgers"...
....real theater, varied and beautiful mosques....
...where even our hotel managed to be an interesting architectural space, without boasting giant chandeliers, too much glass, or ridiculous staff uniforms...
....we really, really aren't going to start complaining.
We'll just stand outside and smile.
No comments:
Post a Comment