35th Anniversary in Muscat, Oman

We flew over to Muscat to celebrate our 35th wedding anniversary.  What did we learn after 35 years together?  Well, we definitely aren't 5-Star Hotel people....and especially not during Ramadan

We stayed at a gorgeous place called "The Chedi."  Our room was great, the grounds were amazing, and the view was spectacular.  The food, however, was not any of the 3: not great, not amazing, not spectacular.  I have never stayed in quite so nice a place and almost starved to death!  Lots of funny stories there, let me tell you!  Fortunately, the mini-bar was complimentary, and they kept it well-stashed with drinks.  We also depended quite a bit on room service, which was always "out" of whatever I wanted, but I did manage to order some basics off the kids' menu.

One night we decided to go pick up KFC.  When we asked the Concierge about it, he got a horrified look on his face and said it would be better if we went there.  (I could see the nightmare in his eyes of the delivery car pulling up to the lobby of this posh place!)  We assured him we were not thinking of delivery!  They called for us to make sure it was open....and then when we got there, of course it was NOT open.  So we went straight back to the hotel and ordered room service.

Another night we decided to go to a Mexican restaurant.  Again, we checked ahead, and they said they would open at 7:00 (after sunset for Ramadan).  So, we got a taxi there and walked around the place until 7:00 and finally got some decent food.  Most all of the restaurants serve "Iftar" to break the fast of Ramadan.  This means they don't serve their regular menu until later.  It is VERY difficult to wait until 7:00 pm to eat when you haven't had anything since breakfast!!  By the way, the hotel did serve quite a nice breakfast!!  Just lunch and dinner were lacking.

Choice of cake or champagne.....hmmmmm......Cake, every time!!

Hotel Lobby

Looking back at our room from the beach ~ We were in the middle section on the second floor.

The pool closest to the beach ~ This is the pool where we spent the most time.

Our chairs the first day ~ Until we realized how much nicer it was to sit in the grassy area so we didn't get sand all over the beach chair!

Our chairs the next 3 days!!

Looking up.....

LOVED watching all the wildlife.  The birds were so entertaining!

Crabs....

Brand new Inifinity pool in the newest section of the hotel.  This pool opened up on our 3rd day, so we checked it out.

Another view of the new pool. Can you see Kim at the end??

Okay, here he is!

Such a quiet, peaceful place!