SALALAH, OMAN

SALALAH, OMAN  29 MAR 11

When last here in November,  we had a lovely tour as part of the Vacation Vignettes program, visiting all the highlights.  There aren’t that many.  This time we thought we’d just visit the downtown area for a taste of local life and food.  The best laid plans, etc. etc.

The majority of the ports on this cruise have not allowed pedestrians in the port area.  If the cruise line does not provide a shuttle bus to a central downtown location, the port authority will provide a shuttle to the gates outside the port from whence you may take a cab to town.  That was the situation here so we rode the mile or so to the gates.  Upon arrival we were greeted by a horde of white robed, white head dressed, black bearded, beady eyed taxi drivers, each with his own white taxi and storming the shuttle bus for first dibs on the well-heeled tourists.  Mass chaos and understandable since it appeared that there were more cabs there than passengers on the whole ship!  The result of this was that every passenger on the shuttle (15) had his choice of three or four of these creatures, all of whom were fighting amongst each other for the opportunity of fleecing the tourists.

So what would we do in a situation like that?  We returned on the next shuttle to the ship.  Nobody would just take us to town.  All they wanted was a 2 – 4 hour “tour” at $20 per hour.  Ah, but all was not lost!  About 150 yards from the ship, across a blacktopped work area, was the Salalah Port Commercial Market.  This place had everything from screws and nails to refrigerators.  We spent at least an hour there and then went back again after lunch.  The big purchase was Omani perfume oil at $3.00.

Now, four days at sea heading to Aqaba, Jordan.