Oman, Part 2

This set of photos is from the Muttrah Souk, one of if not the largest markets in Muscat.  One of the things I love about souks is the mingling of tourist storefronts with shops where locals actually purchase  staples, and Muttrah did not disappoint.  Most of these photos are of the tourist-oriented sections, since that is where it was most appropriate to request permission for and take photographs -- definitely a consideration in the Middle East -- but other portions of the souk included gorgeous alleyways filled with fabric, butchershops, barbershops, etc.

These are actually jambiyas, a type of sword typically found in Yemen, although the same shop also sold khanjars, the Omani version, which is similar except the curve of the blade is closer to a 90 degree angle, rather than curving back up.

Oman, Part 1

Earlier this month I took a very short trip to Muscat, the capital of Oman. Muscat is a beautiful city, tucked between a row of low-lying mountains and the Gulf of Oman at the southeastern tip of the Arabian Peninsula. Oman has worked hard to develop industry and infrastructure since the current sultan came to power in 1970, and it shows. Muscat is very safe, sunny, and clean. It's also filled with luxury hotels, has many good restaurants, lots of shopping and creature comforts -- and the people seem genuinely happy. No mean feat.

Despite being there for less than a week, I managed to squeeze in several picture-taking opportunities. This set was taken at sunset along the beach just outside the Grand Hyatt, an opulent hotel near the diplomatic quarter.

Children playing soccer along the beach, with the corniche and main business districts in the distance.

Looking towards the soon-to-set sun.

You can almost feel the last rays of sun warming this gigantic rock offshore.

Children playing ball in the last light of day.

Ciao, Cinque Terre

By this time, anyone still reading is probably tired of posts with photos of Cinque Terre, but I just love some of these images from the last day and evening in Vernazza so much that I couldn't resist one last collection.

Striped pastel buildings on the main square in Vernazza.

Sunset as seen from Ristorante al Castello, perched above the harbor.

The town square just after nightfall.

Boats neatly docked in the harbor.

Cinque Terre by Water

After a rewarding but long day of hiking south from Vernazza to Riomaggiore, it was a beautiful feeling to step on the ferry and sense the cool breeze over the water.  Taking the ferry back to Vernazza just before sunset was a fantastic choice, not least because it gave us a chance to see four of the five towns from the water.

Riomaggiore from the water.

Manarola might be favorite from the sea ...

... even from this angle, Manarola shines.

Here you can see the rock slides that shut down the walking path between Corniglia and Manarola.

Corniglia, without a port, can only be seen from a distance.

Back in the harbor at Vernazza.

Via dell'Amore

I confess I've procrastinated a bit posting the last batches of Italy photos, in part I think subconsciously because I didn't have any further travel planned and was trying to stretch out the fun.  In the past week, though, I've made arrangements for two trips in February, so it's time to go through the rest of the Italy memories.

These pictures are of the Via dell'Amore, the easiest walk of the Cinque Terre, which stretches between Manarola and the southernmost town, Riomaggiore.  Via dell'Amore--roughly translated as "walk of love" is basically a flat, paved path between the towns.  In some sections, chain link fences along the side have been decorated with padlocks, ribbons, twist-ties, and even some unmentionables, all by couples wishing to leave a sign of their love.

Creme Brulee

Among my favorite activities are baking, hanging out with friends, and trying new things, so experimenting with creme brulee as a girls' night in was a fabulous combination.  We made three different recipes, all from this book: pumpkin, white chocolate raspberry, and milk chocolate caramel.  All of them turned out delicious, despite an untimely malfunction of the creme brulee torch.  Fortunately we deigned to put them in the broiler, and found that, while perhaps less fun that torching the creme by hand, the oven still makes them tasty and crisped on top.

Pumpkin creme, ready to be refrigerated, then bruleed.

Amazing watermelon rum drinks expertly produced by Kenya 

(check out her own new photography blog here!)

The beginnings of white-chocolate raspberry pots.

Preparing to bake the milk chocolate creme in a hot water bath.

The finished white chocolate raspberry creme brulee, which disappeared into our mouths approximately eight seconds later.

Bicycle Lights

This well-lit bicycle, set out to attract attention to an otherwise nondescript Greek restaurant in New York, captures one of my favorite experiences that you seem to enjoy more in large cities---random, interesting objects set in the middle of "normal" streets.