Friday Oct. 10
We're home!! Never did get a new flight from London so we took the Tube into London and spent a couple of hours at the Imperial War Museum. There is an astounding exhibit on the Holocaust. Made us reflect on what's happening today. We also found a cafe nearby so we sipped cappuccino and watched London walk and drive by us!!
We got on our British Air flight on time but were a half hour late leaving the gate. Good flight, got some sleep and decent food. Also 2 small bottles of wine each!! Arrived in Boston after a snoozy flight at 8:40 PM. We wanted to make the 9:15 bus to the Cape...the next one wasn't until 11:15! The gods were with us....we made it!!! So we were home to our house a little after 11:45. 32 hours, door to door!!k
Friday, October 10, 2014
Wednesday, October 8, 2014
Bye, Bye Bahrain!!
Wednesday Oct. 8
Pretty relaxing day! Nick was still not himself......a little feverish. Suzanne, Serena and I went to the base gym. S and S did spinning with volleyball team members and I walked laps....only 20 today! A ship was in and many young sailors were playing basketball so I didn't want to get in their way!!!
We got organized, had lunch, played "Farkle," a dice game, gabbed, napped, cooked, etc. Had our last shawarma for dinner and then Serena and Peter, Suzanne and I played a final game of Hand and Foot. Believe it or not, we decided the game was a "draw!"
We had a long and lovely "good night and goodbye" with Serena, Nick and Lucas. Serena even asked why we didn't stay and live with them!
What a fabulous trip! The Mirisolas have a beautiful situation in Bahrain. A lovely home, many good friends, a good school situation. It's great to see them thriving and enjoying learning about a different culture. The stay also gave us a new and positive insight into the Middle East. Of course, the best part was actually "living" so well with Suzanne and her family. She's a supportive wife and a great mother, involved with the Navy and Bahrain School community. They all make us very proud!
We're now at the airport in Bahrain awaiting our British airways flight which departs at 1:30 AM Thursday, Bahrain time, which is 6:30 PM. Wednesday, East Coast Time. We stop in London and are due to arrive in Boston 8 PM, Thursday. In London, we hope to get on an earlier flight....,we'll see!!
BYE BYE, BAHRAIN!!!
Pretty relaxing day! Nick was still not himself......a little feverish. Suzanne, Serena and I went to the base gym. S and S did spinning with volleyball team members and I walked laps....only 20 today! A ship was in and many young sailors were playing basketball so I didn't want to get in their way!!!
We got organized, had lunch, played "Farkle," a dice game, gabbed, napped, cooked, etc. Had our last shawarma for dinner and then Serena and Peter, Suzanne and I played a final game of Hand and Foot. Believe it or not, we decided the game was a "draw!"
We had a long and lovely "good night and goodbye" with Serena, Nick and Lucas. Serena even asked why we didn't stay and live with them!
What a fabulous trip! The Mirisolas have a beautiful situation in Bahrain. A lovely home, many good friends, a good school situation. It's great to see them thriving and enjoying learning about a different culture. The stay also gave us a new and positive insight into the Middle East. Of course, the best part was actually "living" so well with Suzanne and her family. She's a supportive wife and a great mother, involved with the Navy and Bahrain School community. They all make us very proud!
We're now at the airport in Bahrain awaiting our British airways flight which departs at 1:30 AM Thursday, Bahrain time, which is 6:30 PM. Wednesday, East Coast Time. We stop in London and are due to arrive in Boston 8 PM, Thursday. In London, we hope to get on an earlier flight....,we'll see!!
BYE BYE, BAHRAIN!!!
One Last Day in Manama
Tuesday Oct. 7
Nick was "low and slow" this morning but after we promised lunch at the mall he rallied and off we all went for a day of sightseeing. Our first stop was at a
"Living Wall." Bahrain is so devoid of natural vegetation, someone decided to have plants growing out of a 2 story wall. Quite a sight!
We then proceeded to a tour of old homes in Muharraq, the former Capitol of Bahrain, along the old Pearling Trail. The first was the
Shaikh Isa Bin Ali House built in the 1800s. A distinguishing feature is the wind tower used to funnel down air into the 2 story home. How did people subsist in this oppressive heat before AC? There are 4 sections to the house: the main house, the servants' quarters, the shaikh's quarters and the guest quarters surrounding an inner courtyard. The Kurar House has been renovated in order to have local women reproduce unique local embroidery made with silver and gold silk threads
applied to fabric (shawls, dresses).
The Abdullah Al Zayed House displays early newspaper history of Bahrain. The owner, a poet and correspondent, founded the first daily Bahrain newspaper in 1938.
Next we visited Reef Island in the middle of Manama. It showcases lush vegetation, upscale apartments and private villas all on reclaimed land. At the Seef Mall we had Lunch Paul's Maison de qualite for 125 years. It's "a taste of France all around the world."
We did some strolling and shopping in the Mall before driving to the Ritz where Peter bought a Bahrain T-shirt. At a local tailor's, Suzanne and I picked up the tunics we'd had made and, finally, we stopped at Sheema Framing and Gallery where Peter and I found a framed print of the Souq that we bought.
Back at the Mirisola villa, Nick finally succumbed and stretched out on the couch till bedtime. What a good sport! Peter played "Monster Doggy" in the pool with Serena and Lucas and then we all prepared dinner. Once Nick and Lucas were in bed, Peter and Serena, Suzanne and I finished a game of Hand and Foot begun in Oman. Pete didn't get home until after 9:30 and we were all in bed by 10.
Nick was "low and slow" this morning but after we promised lunch at the mall he rallied and off we all went for a day of sightseeing. Our first stop was at a
"Living Wall." Bahrain is so devoid of natural vegetation, someone decided to have plants growing out of a 2 story wall. Quite a sight!
We then proceeded to a tour of old homes in Muharraq, the former Capitol of Bahrain, along the old Pearling Trail. The first was the
Shaikh Isa Bin Ali House built in the 1800s. A distinguishing feature is the wind tower used to funnel down air into the 2 story home. How did people subsist in this oppressive heat before AC? There are 4 sections to the house: the main house, the servants' quarters, the shaikh's quarters and the guest quarters surrounding an inner courtyard. The Kurar House has been renovated in order to have local women reproduce unique local embroidery made with silver and gold silk threads
applied to fabric (shawls, dresses).
The Abdullah Al Zayed House displays early newspaper history of Bahrain. The owner, a poet and correspondent, founded the first daily Bahrain newspaper in 1938.
Next we visited Reef Island in the middle of Manama. It showcases lush vegetation, upscale apartments and private villas all on reclaimed land. At the Seef Mall we had Lunch Paul's Maison de qualite for 125 years. It's "a taste of France all around the world."
We did some strolling and shopping in the Mall before driving to the Ritz where Peter bought a Bahrain T-shirt. At a local tailor's, Suzanne and I picked up the tunics we'd had made and, finally, we stopped at Sheema Framing and Gallery where Peter and I found a framed print of the Souq that we bought.
Back at the Mirisola villa, Nick finally succumbed and stretched out on the couch till bedtime. What a good sport! Peter played "Monster Doggy" in the pool with Serena and Lucas and then we all prepared dinner. Once Nick and Lucas were in bed, Peter and Serena, Suzanne and I finished a game of Hand and Foot begun in Oman. Pete didn't get home until after 9:30 and we were all in bed by 10.
Tuesday, October 7, 2014
Prayer and Rugs
Monday Oct. 6
It's school vacation week because of the Eid celebration so we had a "pajama and TV morning!" At 10 AM the temp was 95 and felt like 103 already. Eid-al-Adha commemorates the feast of Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son so their are lots of lambs sold at the meat market to use for family celebrations. Also, because of Eid, the Grand Mosque will be open today for tours to non-Muslims; that will be our goal for today! But first, Peter wanted to try ordering McDonald's to be delivered!! EVERYTHING can be delivered here!
The kids really did not want to go to the Mosque so Suzanne got a sitter for the afternoon and off we went!! Suz and I were both wearing pants and tops whose sleeves covered our elbows but we still had to put on abaya and hijab before entering. In a tent outside the mosque, Muslim ladies helped to find us an abaya and then secured a hijab for each of us. We then proceeded into the courtyard of the mosque with our guide.
She asked us to remove our shoes before going into the mosque itself. There were cubbies for the shoes! She then guided us into the main hall which was completely carpeted, domed, beautifully lit with a huge chandelier made in Belgium and accessory lighting made in France. Inside the dome are small stained glass windows, each having the word "Ala" in Arabic. There are no statues, there is no altar, there are chairs only around the edges of the enormous main prayer room for the elderly and/or infirm. The balcony can also accommodate those who are praying.
Our guide then had the men in our group stand in a line on the rug, shoulder to shoulder; the women did the same on the line behind the men. She indicated that shoulder to shoulder indicated equality and women behind provides personal modesty for the when praying on the rug. So the women are not necessarily in a separate room, they are simply behind the men to preserve their personal dignity.
Our guide has lived in Bahrain for 5 years and said she will be here indefinitely. She has also lived in Orlando FL. At the end of her tour we heard the "Call to Prayer" which is sung by a member 5 times each day in every mosque, small or grand and heard around the immediate vicinity of the mosque.
Our final tour was around the courtyard where there were easels set up with framed explanations and historical stories of Islam and Mohammad. Very interesting!! One, very convincingly, compared the tenets of Islam to the rights given in the US Declaration of Independence.
After reclaiming our shoes and returning our abaya and hijab, we visited a couple of Suzanne's favorite merchants. The first was a woodworker with whom she made arrangements to have a piece of furniture refinished and to have a table made, the top of which will look like one of the beautiful front doors on Bahraini homes. Next we went to her favorite rug dealer, Mohammad, who showed us some of his hand sewn orientals from Kashmir, Iran, Pakistan and others. He has done several "Rug Flops" at Suzanne's where he shows his rugs and friends of hers buy, hopefully! She's having another one the end of October. These were really out of our price range but he did have some small, round, silk rugs, made in India, for table decoration. We decided to think about it. As we were leaving, he presented to us, as a gift, one of the small round ones. We were completely stunned and overwhelmed!! Suzanne must be a very valued customer!!
Back home again, we prepared dinner, ate with the kids and Pete and then watched last night's Patriots' game.......GO PATS!!!
It's school vacation week because of the Eid celebration so we had a "pajama and TV morning!" At 10 AM the temp was 95 and felt like 103 already. Eid-al-Adha commemorates the feast of Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son so their are lots of lambs sold at the meat market to use for family celebrations. Also, because of Eid, the Grand Mosque will be open today for tours to non-Muslims; that will be our goal for today! But first, Peter wanted to try ordering McDonald's to be delivered!! EVERYTHING can be delivered here!
The kids really did not want to go to the Mosque so Suzanne got a sitter for the afternoon and off we went!! Suz and I were both wearing pants and tops whose sleeves covered our elbows but we still had to put on abaya and hijab before entering. In a tent outside the mosque, Muslim ladies helped to find us an abaya and then secured a hijab for each of us. We then proceeded into the courtyard of the mosque with our guide.
She asked us to remove our shoes before going into the mosque itself. There were cubbies for the shoes! She then guided us into the main hall which was completely carpeted, domed, beautifully lit with a huge chandelier made in Belgium and accessory lighting made in France. Inside the dome are small stained glass windows, each having the word "Ala" in Arabic. There are no statues, there is no altar, there are chairs only around the edges of the enormous main prayer room for the elderly and/or infirm. The balcony can also accommodate those who are praying.
Our guide then had the men in our group stand in a line on the rug, shoulder to shoulder; the women did the same on the line behind the men. She indicated that shoulder to shoulder indicated equality and women behind provides personal modesty for the when praying on the rug. So the women are not necessarily in a separate room, they are simply behind the men to preserve their personal dignity.
Our guide has lived in Bahrain for 5 years and said she will be here indefinitely. She has also lived in Orlando FL. At the end of her tour we heard the "Call to Prayer" which is sung by a member 5 times each day in every mosque, small or grand and heard around the immediate vicinity of the mosque.
Our final tour was around the courtyard where there were easels set up with framed explanations and historical stories of Islam and Mohammad. Very interesting!! One, very convincingly, compared the tenets of Islam to the rights given in the US Declaration of Independence.
After reclaiming our shoes and returning our abaya and hijab, we visited a couple of Suzanne's favorite merchants. The first was a woodworker with whom she made arrangements to have a piece of furniture refinished and to have a table made, the top of which will look like one of the beautiful front doors on Bahraini homes. Next we went to her favorite rug dealer, Mohammad, who showed us some of his hand sewn orientals from Kashmir, Iran, Pakistan and others. He has done several "Rug Flops" at Suzanne's where he shows his rugs and friends of hers buy, hopefully! She's having another one the end of October. These were really out of our price range but he did have some small, round, silk rugs, made in India, for table decoration. We decided to think about it. As we were leaving, he presented to us, as a gift, one of the small round ones. We were completely stunned and overwhelmed!! Suzanne must be a very valued customer!!
Back home again, we prepared dinner, ate with the kids and Pete and then watched last night's Patriots' game.......GO PATS!!!
Monday, October 6, 2014
Au Revoir, Oman
Sunday Oct. 5
We awoke to another beautiful day on the GOO! But, alas, we leave at noon. I was up at 7, put on my bathing suit and went to walk on the beach to do some beach combing. Very few guests up and about! However, MANY workers were out preparing the beach, the pools, the lounges and the patio areas! The temp was 82 but felt like 91 according to the weather channel. At 8, I met Peter at the outdoor Al Waha lounge for cappuccino served by our new friend Rina from Nepal.
The Mirisolas were at the breakfast buffet about 9. I went for my last cruise down the Lazy River before breakfast. This, the Lazy River, is definitely my favorite activity here at Shangri-la! If I had the $$$, I'd build one in my back yard and spend a lot of time floating in it!!
Back at breakfast, we all ate heartily since we weren't sure about lunch.
At 11:45 we reconvened in the lobby, ready to depart. One problem!! We had hired a van and driver for the afternoon....valet had no record of it!!! Situation soon rectified and off we went toward Muscat in 2 cabs.
Oman is a beautiful, scrubbed, friendly country. The sultan who took over in 1970 started significant changes including education reforms and beautification because he knew that their oil and therefore their resources would diminish. Before 1970 there were 3 schools in all of Oman. Now the literacy rate if 86%!
Our drivers drove us into Muscat and we were quite impressed. We saw the sultan's palace and his magnificent yacht as well as some well maintained Portuguese fortifications dating from the mid 16th century when Oman was occupied by the Portuguese, beautiful landscaping with trees and shrubs and, again, ornate street lights. We stopped at the
Bait al Bair, a museum of Omani culture including elaborate exhibits of weapons, the home, clothing and jewelry, stamps, instruments and manuscripts. Outside there were an authentic Omani guest house, a miniature Omani village and many ornately painted wooden goats of different species.
After a stop at the Muscat Souq where we bargained and subsequently made some purchases, we made a Starbuck's stop for refreshment. Our last stop before the airport was at the Opera House. It's a magnificent building that cost 100 million rial to build
and contains the "best restaurant in Muscat" according to our driver. We never did get to see the Grand Mosque since it is Eid and is not open much to the public. However we did learn that it took 6 years to build and that it took 600 women 4 years to weave a circular carpet inside the mosque on which
6000 men can pray.
The rest of the day was taken up with the airport, passport control, visas, eating at DQ, flying back to Bahrain, taking cabs back to Mirisolas , unpacking and retiring for the night!
We awoke to another beautiful day on the GOO! But, alas, we leave at noon. I was up at 7, put on my bathing suit and went to walk on the beach to do some beach combing. Very few guests up and about! However, MANY workers were out preparing the beach, the pools, the lounges and the patio areas! The temp was 82 but felt like 91 according to the weather channel. At 8, I met Peter at the outdoor Al Waha lounge for cappuccino served by our new friend Rina from Nepal.
The Mirisolas were at the breakfast buffet about 9. I went for my last cruise down the Lazy River before breakfast. This, the Lazy River, is definitely my favorite activity here at Shangri-la! If I had the $$$, I'd build one in my back yard and spend a lot of time floating in it!!
Back at breakfast, we all ate heartily since we weren't sure about lunch.
At 11:45 we reconvened in the lobby, ready to depart. One problem!! We had hired a van and driver for the afternoon....valet had no record of it!!! Situation soon rectified and off we went toward Muscat in 2 cabs.
Oman is a beautiful, scrubbed, friendly country. The sultan who took over in 1970 started significant changes including education reforms and beautification because he knew that their oil and therefore their resources would diminish. Before 1970 there were 3 schools in all of Oman. Now the literacy rate if 86%!
Our drivers drove us into Muscat and we were quite impressed. We saw the sultan's palace and his magnificent yacht as well as some well maintained Portuguese fortifications dating from the mid 16th century when Oman was occupied by the Portuguese, beautiful landscaping with trees and shrubs and, again, ornate street lights. We stopped at the
Bait al Bair, a museum of Omani culture including elaborate exhibits of weapons, the home, clothing and jewelry, stamps, instruments and manuscripts. Outside there were an authentic Omani guest house, a miniature Omani village and many ornately painted wooden goats of different species.
After a stop at the Muscat Souq where we bargained and subsequently made some purchases, we made a Starbuck's stop for refreshment. Our last stop before the airport was at the Opera House. It's a magnificent building that cost 100 million rial to build
and contains the "best restaurant in Muscat" according to our driver. We never did get to see the Grand Mosque since it is Eid and is not open much to the public. However we did learn that it took 6 years to build and that it took 600 women 4 years to weave a circular carpet inside the mosque on which
6000 men can pray.
The rest of the day was taken up with the airport, passport control, visas, eating at DQ, flying back to Bahrain, taking cabs back to Mirisolas , unpacking and retiring for the night!
Saturday, October 4, 2014
Last day on the GOO
Saturday Oct. 4
Last night the Mirisolas met their friends, the Hayses, for a dinner buffet. Remember we had a huge lunch at 3PM yesterday? So Peter and I opted out. Peter got room service, a tuna wrap, and I got nothing! I was done in!! In PJs at 8:30!
Today was another day of "Relax at the Resort!" Just what we needed after our hike/climb/swim yesterday!! Swimming, doing the "Lazy River," eating, reading, kayaking, putting cold cloths on our heads or around our necks, snacking on watermelon and other strenuous activities! Suzanne even had her sunglasses cleaned by a server!
Peter and I found a place we could order a cappuccino! Delicious and served by a lovely young woman from Nepal. She and her husband are here for 3 years working at the resort.
Serena and I did share a "first" for me.....,a camel ride down the beach! I wouldn't want to ride hundreds of miles like that but it was exciting!
Dinner tonight at Capri Court, good Italian food but not very good service! First time here we waited so long.
I hope to finish "Lost Horizon" before turning out the light.
Last night the Mirisolas met their friends, the Hayses, for a dinner buffet. Remember we had a huge lunch at 3PM yesterday? So Peter and I opted out. Peter got room service, a tuna wrap, and I got nothing! I was done in!! In PJs at 8:30!
Today was another day of "Relax at the Resort!" Just what we needed after our hike/climb/swim yesterday!! Swimming, doing the "Lazy River," eating, reading, kayaking, putting cold cloths on our heads or around our necks, snacking on watermelon and other strenuous activities! Suzanne even had her sunglasses cleaned by a server!
Peter and I found a place we could order a cappuccino! Delicious and served by a lovely young woman from Nepal. She and her husband are here for 3 years working at the resort.
Serena and I did share a "first" for me.....,a camel ride down the beach! I wouldn't want to ride hundreds of miles like that but it was exciting!
Dinner tonight at Capri Court, good Italian food but not very good service! First time here we waited so long.
I hope to finish "Lost Horizon" before turning out the light.
Friday, October 3, 2014
What a Wadi!!
Friday Oct. 3
Up at 7, breakfast at 7:30 and at 7:45 off to Wadi Shab, 2 hours south on the Gulf. A wadi is a dry riverbed running through the mountains that still has some water but can fill during powerful rain storms. There are several in Oman that are tourists attractions for hiking and swimming with a guide. Wadi Shab, according to our guide Habib is the most natural, the most accessible and the most visited.
Our hired car was, well, we felt like we were taking a trip with Liz and Ed. It was an old Toyota van with one back door slider!! The driver had a friend with him who was dropped off halfway to our destination. Imagine getting in an old van in a country that borders Yeman and driving "who knows where!" But, not a problem. I wouldn't say the driver was at all charming like Habib, our Wadi guide, but he was proficient!! Got us all there, in one piece, in the allotted time!!
We drove through a couple of decent sized cities nestled
between the rocky, craggy mountains until we came to a very desolate area, same mountains, very few tiny villages located along a beautiful 4 lane highway with
street lights down the middle and powers lines on the side of the highway. It was like this all the way to our destination. We saw wild goats and camels and very little signs of civilization.
We arrived at Wadi Shab at 10:30, met Habib, our guide, and boarded a small boat to cross maybe 50 yards of water to where we started our 2 1/2 mile round trip hike into the mountains along the quite diminished river. Twice in the past 7 years, hurricanes have flooded the river banks and the small subsistence farms along the old riverbed. The hike was a bit challenging and circuitous, some of the large rocks were slippery and the ascent was gradual but ascending. And, of course, it was HOT, in the mid 90s.
We walked through the river a couple of times; we were prepared by wearing water shoes. Near the end of the hike, we stripped down to our bathing suits and swam or floated in the river the rest of the way to a cave entrance. I had had it by then so I declined the cave swimming tour and Peter joined me on a rock in the shade while the Mirisolas did the cave tour. We actually met and chatted with a couple, she a Muslim from Texas teaching in Oman and he, born in Oman, but a Bengladeshi by nationality.
Mirisolas enjoyed the cave but did admit it was strenuous. Inside the cave they encountered some friends from Bahrain who then accompanied us on the return trip with their guide Juma. It was a descending hike with more shade so seemed faster. By the time we got back to our van and driver at 2:15, I was pretty much "totaled" but we all regained our strength at a local restaurant where we had chicken curry, salad? lentils and Indian flat bread cooked like a crepe but thinner and tastier. And lots of water!! Juma's friend owned the restaurant so he, Juma, helped us order and helped serve us since it was the holy day and there wasn't much help. We then wended out way back to Shangri-la in a pretty quiet van. Arrived shortly after 5:30. A long day but we DID it and it was awesome!!
Up at 7, breakfast at 7:30 and at 7:45 off to Wadi Shab, 2 hours south on the Gulf. A wadi is a dry riverbed running through the mountains that still has some water but can fill during powerful rain storms. There are several in Oman that are tourists attractions for hiking and swimming with a guide. Wadi Shab, according to our guide Habib is the most natural, the most accessible and the most visited.
Our hired car was, well, we felt like we were taking a trip with Liz and Ed. It was an old Toyota van with one back door slider!! The driver had a friend with him who was dropped off halfway to our destination. Imagine getting in an old van in a country that borders Yeman and driving "who knows where!" But, not a problem. I wouldn't say the driver was at all charming like Habib, our Wadi guide, but he was proficient!! Got us all there, in one piece, in the allotted time!!
We drove through a couple of decent sized cities nestled
between the rocky, craggy mountains until we came to a very desolate area, same mountains, very few tiny villages located along a beautiful 4 lane highway with
street lights down the middle and powers lines on the side of the highway. It was like this all the way to our destination. We saw wild goats and camels and very little signs of civilization.
We arrived at Wadi Shab at 10:30, met Habib, our guide, and boarded a small boat to cross maybe 50 yards of water to where we started our 2 1/2 mile round trip hike into the mountains along the quite diminished river. Twice in the past 7 years, hurricanes have flooded the river banks and the small subsistence farms along the old riverbed. The hike was a bit challenging and circuitous, some of the large rocks were slippery and the ascent was gradual but ascending. And, of course, it was HOT, in the mid 90s.
We walked through the river a couple of times; we were prepared by wearing water shoes. Near the end of the hike, we stripped down to our bathing suits and swam or floated in the river the rest of the way to a cave entrance. I had had it by then so I declined the cave swimming tour and Peter joined me on a rock in the shade while the Mirisolas did the cave tour. We actually met and chatted with a couple, she a Muslim from Texas teaching in Oman and he, born in Oman, but a Bengladeshi by nationality.
Mirisolas enjoyed the cave but did admit it was strenuous. Inside the cave they encountered some friends from Bahrain who then accompanied us on the return trip with their guide Juma. It was a descending hike with more shade so seemed faster. By the time we got back to our van and driver at 2:15, I was pretty much "totaled" but we all regained our strength at a local restaurant where we had chicken curry, salad? lentils and Indian flat bread cooked like a crepe but thinner and tastier. And lots of water!! Juma's friend owned the restaurant so he, Juma, helped us order and helped serve us since it was the holy day and there wasn't much help. We then wended out way back to Shangri-la in a pretty quiet van. Arrived shortly after 5:30. A long day but we DID it and it was awesome!!
Thursday, October 2, 2014
Chillin' on the GOO! (Gulf of Oman)
Thursday Oct. 2
Ahhhh! Shangri-la!! In honor of our location, I downloaded James Hilton's LOST HORIZON, the original Shangri-la, to my Kindle! This resort is phenomenal!! I'd have to say it's one of the most beautiful sites I've ever seen! The cove on the Gulf of Oman, the fabulous beach, the multitude of pools, the spacious verandas with lounges, the servers who bring bottles of water in a small ice-filled coolers, ice cold cloths for face, neck or head, slices of watermelon and who take orders for food and drink.....all ringed by 3 beautifully detailed Arabic designed hotels.....all ringed by barren, craggy, soaring mountains.
This morning we put on our bathing suits and cover-ups and went to the restaurant that offers breakfast for all who stay here. It was a great buffet with quite gallant servers who carry your full plate back to your table. We spent the whole day at the pool, at the splash pad, floating down the "Lazy River," swimming in the Gulf and looking for shells. It was heaven!!
While at the beach, some local fishermen came into shore and threw out an anchor. A couple of resort chefs stood on the beach wearing their chef hats and aprons while one fisherman walked ashore with a crate of live fish. One chef weighed the fish on a scale he had brought to the beach and paid the fisherman for the fresh catch. Wonder how they tasted?
For dinner we took a small shuttle bus to a restaurant/Souq area at the resort. We did a little shopping and then found our way to Asia, a sleek Asian restaurant. Since this is the beginning Eid Al Adha, a Muslin holiday that celebrates the time of sacrifice, no alcohol is being served at the resort. So.....no drink before dinner! We had wine back in the room so we had a nightcap and played a couple of hands of Hand and Foot with Suzanne and Serena. To be finished tomorrow night.
Ahhhh! Shangri-la!! In honor of our location, I downloaded James Hilton's LOST HORIZON, the original Shangri-la, to my Kindle! This resort is phenomenal!! I'd have to say it's one of the most beautiful sites I've ever seen! The cove on the Gulf of Oman, the fabulous beach, the multitude of pools, the spacious verandas with lounges, the servers who bring bottles of water in a small ice-filled coolers, ice cold cloths for face, neck or head, slices of watermelon and who take orders for food and drink.....all ringed by 3 beautifully detailed Arabic designed hotels.....all ringed by barren, craggy, soaring mountains.
This morning we put on our bathing suits and cover-ups and went to the restaurant that offers breakfast for all who stay here. It was a great buffet with quite gallant servers who carry your full plate back to your table. We spent the whole day at the pool, at the splash pad, floating down the "Lazy River," swimming in the Gulf and looking for shells. It was heaven!!
While at the beach, some local fishermen came into shore and threw out an anchor. A couple of resort chefs stood on the beach wearing their chef hats and aprons while one fisherman walked ashore with a crate of live fish. One chef weighed the fish on a scale he had brought to the beach and paid the fisherman for the fresh catch. Wonder how they tasted?
For dinner we took a small shuttle bus to a restaurant/Souq area at the resort. We did a little shopping and then found our way to Asia, a sleek Asian restaurant. Since this is the beginning Eid Al Adha, a Muslin holiday that celebrates the time of sacrifice, no alcohol is being served at the resort. So.....no drink before dinner! We had wine back in the room so we had a nightcap and played a couple of hands of Hand and Foot with Suzanne and Serena. To be finished tomorrow night.
Wednesday, October 1, 2014
Off to Oman
Wednesday Oct. 1
For dinner last night Peter and the kids made trofie for trofie al pesto. Delicious!!! Pete was later than usual but was home before we all left the dinner table. What a long day he has: gone by 7:30 AM, home by 7:30 PM (even later when we're not here!). During and after dinner I did 2 loads of laundry in preparation for our trip today to Oman. By the time I went to bed the second load was finishing in the dryer.....takes a while!
This morning Suz and I went to the base for our workouts and errands. At home we spent the rest of the day getting ready for our trip to Oman. Pete got out of work early; the kids got early dismissals from school, the rental car was returned to the car rental dealer and we were off to the airport in two cabs at 1:30. At the Bahrain airport we got boarding passes and cleared security easily and waited at our gate for a bus to take us out to the plane. We did notice that the plane for Riyadh. had ONLY men waiting!! The plane ride was 1 hour and 15 minutes; and now we're 8 hours ahead of Harwich. All announcements on the plane were in Arabic and English.
In Oman we deboarded onto a bus and at the terminal went through passport control where we purchased visas, $14 each or 5 rial (1 rial = $2.62). Stopped at duty free shop for wine, got our bags and hopped into 2 taxis ($40 each) for the 45 minute drive through Muscat to our resort on the water, Shangri-la!! The drive was exciting, to say the least!! FAST DRIVER!!! Once out of the city, the drive was on 2 lane roads through the rocky mountains! Once there, we were in heaven!! What an awesome place.....3 hotels in one resort built around a lagoon and magnificent swimming pools.
After getting our rooms (Serena's bunking in with us) and setting ourselves up, we went to a cafe, had a light supper, walked around and retired to our rooms around 10 PM, Oman time. Lucas likes being reminded this is a 5 star resort: he speaks more softly, walks instead of runs and acts "classy!"
Tomorrow's our "day off!" Relaxation is our theme!
For dinner last night Peter and the kids made trofie for trofie al pesto. Delicious!!! Pete was later than usual but was home before we all left the dinner table. What a long day he has: gone by 7:30 AM, home by 7:30 PM (even later when we're not here!). During and after dinner I did 2 loads of laundry in preparation for our trip today to Oman. By the time I went to bed the second load was finishing in the dryer.....takes a while!
This morning Suz and I went to the base for our workouts and errands. At home we spent the rest of the day getting ready for our trip to Oman. Pete got out of work early; the kids got early dismissals from school, the rental car was returned to the car rental dealer and we were off to the airport in two cabs at 1:30. At the Bahrain airport we got boarding passes and cleared security easily and waited at our gate for a bus to take us out to the plane. We did notice that the plane for Riyadh. had ONLY men waiting!! The plane ride was 1 hour and 15 minutes; and now we're 8 hours ahead of Harwich. All announcements on the plane were in Arabic and English.
In Oman we deboarded onto a bus and at the terminal went through passport control where we purchased visas, $14 each or 5 rial (1 rial = $2.62). Stopped at duty free shop for wine, got our bags and hopped into 2 taxis ($40 each) for the 45 minute drive through Muscat to our resort on the water, Shangri-la!! The drive was exciting, to say the least!! FAST DRIVER!!! Once out of the city, the drive was on 2 lane roads through the rocky mountains! Once there, we were in heaven!! What an awesome place.....3 hotels in one resort built around a lagoon and magnificent swimming pools.
After getting our rooms (Serena's bunking in with us) and setting ourselves up, we went to a cafe, had a light supper, walked around and retired to our rooms around 10 PM, Oman time. Lucas likes being reminded this is a 5 star resort: he speaks more softly, walks instead of runs and acts "classy!"
Tomorrow's our "day off!" Relaxation is our theme!
Tuesday, September 30, 2014
WOW!!! Busy Day!
Tuesday Sept. 30
Dinner last night was from a local shawarma take-out. We had chicken, lamb and beef shawarma. All were excellent! Watched some TV and had an early night.....Peter was planning to get up at 5:30 AM to watch the second half of Monday Night Football. What a mistake!!! He actually didn't watch too long before going back to bed!!!
No spinning/walking today. Too much else to do!! Suzanne and I headed to a nearby tailor where we took the 2 pieces of fabric she bought yesterday to have a tunic made for each of us. They will be ready before we leave Bahrain. Total price for each tunic: 4 BD for fabric+6BD for tailor = approximately $25.00. Not bad at all!! The tailor's business had the following information:
Al Jazera Tailoring "Specially we doing all type of European & Amwrican Dress, Short, Pants, Jackets, etc......"
Peter was ready to go when we got back so off we went, back to Manama, to the Central Market. What a place!! A gigantic roofed building with no walls and no AC, just aisle upon aisle of produce stacked high. We were familiar with most of the fruit but several types of vegetables were unknown to us. The vendors approached us as we walked by; men pushing carts followed us hoping we'd buy and use one of them to haul our stuff!! All we bought was basil and parsley for pesto; 2 bunches of basil for $.25 each and 1 bunch of parsley for $.50. We did stop for a small Arabian coffee each; Suzanne and I were the only women sitting in the coffee shop area!
From there we proceeded to the meat market which is also huge, but air-conditioned, AND smelly!! Peter and Suzanne were beside themselves with the fresh meat odor! We stayed by the door for a couple of minutes while Peter took a couple of pics and then we left. We all took a couple of basil leaves to smell to stave off the meat odor! The fresh fish market was much better! Also air-conditioned and loaded with large and small fish of all colors and types, shrimp, blue crabs, octopus, etc. Suzanne bought 2 kilo shrimp and had it cleaned for 3BD or $7.50. We were so hot and sweaty by this time that we went home to change and take a break before heading out on the road again.
An hour later we were headed south to see the "Tree of Life." This site is more than 30 kilometers from Manama deep in the desert. The tree is a mesquite tree and is the ONLY tree in the area. The desert here is pretty flat, bleak, barren, isolated, bland and desolate. Folklore puts the tree at more than 500 years old and, because if its location, is believed by some to have been the original Garden of Eden. Back on the highway we drove past Manama west to the Royal Camel Farm where we were able to get pretty close to the camels. I had thought they were extremely tall so I was disappointed to discover a camel is only 6 feet tall at the shoulder and 7 feet at the hump.
We arrived back at Mirisolas just in time for Suzanne to head to the kids' school for a PTSO meeting and to pick up Serena (who was staying after school to take a quiz she'll miss when we're in Oman) and Nick (who was staying for Yearbook). Peter and I stayed home to greet Lucas when he arrived home on the school bus and to monitor his homework!
Dinner last night was from a local shawarma take-out. We had chicken, lamb and beef shawarma. All were excellent! Watched some TV and had an early night.....Peter was planning to get up at 5:30 AM to watch the second half of Monday Night Football. What a mistake!!! He actually didn't watch too long before going back to bed!!!
No spinning/walking today. Too much else to do!! Suzanne and I headed to a nearby tailor where we took the 2 pieces of fabric she bought yesterday to have a tunic made for each of us. They will be ready before we leave Bahrain. Total price for each tunic: 4 BD for fabric+6BD for tailor = approximately $25.00. Not bad at all!! The tailor's business had the following information:
Al Jazera Tailoring "Specially we doing all type of European & Amwrican Dress, Short, Pants, Jackets, etc......"
Peter was ready to go when we got back so off we went, back to Manama, to the Central Market. What a place!! A gigantic roofed building with no walls and no AC, just aisle upon aisle of produce stacked high. We were familiar with most of the fruit but several types of vegetables were unknown to us. The vendors approached us as we walked by; men pushing carts followed us hoping we'd buy and use one of them to haul our stuff!! All we bought was basil and parsley for pesto; 2 bunches of basil for $.25 each and 1 bunch of parsley for $.50. We did stop for a small Arabian coffee each; Suzanne and I were the only women sitting in the coffee shop area!
From there we proceeded to the meat market which is also huge, but air-conditioned, AND smelly!! Peter and Suzanne were beside themselves with the fresh meat odor! We stayed by the door for a couple of minutes while Peter took a couple of pics and then we left. We all took a couple of basil leaves to smell to stave off the meat odor! The fresh fish market was much better! Also air-conditioned and loaded with large and small fish of all colors and types, shrimp, blue crabs, octopus, etc. Suzanne bought 2 kilo shrimp and had it cleaned for 3BD or $7.50. We were so hot and sweaty by this time that we went home to change and take a break before heading out on the road again.
An hour later we were headed south to see the "Tree of Life." This site is more than 30 kilometers from Manama deep in the desert. The tree is a mesquite tree and is the ONLY tree in the area. The desert here is pretty flat, bleak, barren, isolated, bland and desolate. Folklore puts the tree at more than 500 years old and, because if its location, is believed by some to have been the original Garden of Eden. Back on the highway we drove past Manama west to the Royal Camel Farm where we were able to get pretty close to the camels. I had thought they were extremely tall so I was disappointed to discover a camel is only 6 feet tall at the shoulder and 7 feet at the hump.
We arrived back at Mirisolas just in time for Suzanne to head to the kids' school for a PTSO meeting and to pick up Serena (who was staying after school to take a quiz she'll miss when we're in Oman) and Nick (who was staying for Yearbook). Peter and I stayed home to greet Lucas when he arrived home on the school bus and to monitor his homework!
Monday, September 29, 2014
A Day of Contrasts
Monday Sept. 29
We had another relaxing evening last night. Peter played "Monster Doggie" with the boys in the pool; they loved it! We all sat down for a delicious home-made dinner and settled down for an evening of TV football, the 1PM Sunday game, on at 8 PM here. We're trying to figure out how to watch the Patriots Monday night game---4:30 AM Tues. Bahrain time!!!
I woke up this morning feeling like my internal GPS was finally working. The neighborhood looked familiar and I could have found my way to the Navy base by myself. In Juffair, where the Mirisolas live, there are private villas with an entrance gate right on the street and a stucco wall around the whole property, most of it only a few feet from the walls of the house, dividing it from the villas next door and behind it. There are also many high rise apartment buildings with few apartments occupied and many other apartment buildings under construction or construction halted!! All of the rest of the space is empty sand lots, some used as parking lots, some just waiting for future construction. Hardly anything green amid the whitish houses and lots!! Lots of cranes visible in the air!!
Suzanne taught her 8 AM Spinning class and I walked 40 laps (3 miles) around the track, ending with some yoga. At home, showered and left with Peter for Bab al Bahrain, the biggest Souq (market area) in downtown Manama, capital of Bahrain. We drove by the Summer Palace and the Grand Mosque again and then reached the financial district. What a contrast!! Beautiful, COMPLETED sky-scrapers, interesting shapes (one shaped like a screw!) full of blue and green glass and very nicely landscaped!!
We parked in a public, PAVED lot and walked to the Souq, a huge area with large, air conditioned buildings surrounding hot alleys of small and tiny shops selling fabric, clothing, herbs and nuts, jewelry , kitchen objects, toys, almost anything you could want or need. All purchase prices subject to discussion! And all merchants trying to lure you into their shops! We stopped in briefly at Wahid's trinket shop; Suzanne's a regular there!! Suzanne then bought some fabric for a couple of tunics. Peter bought a new watch band and had it put on. And, in the middle of our ambling around the Souq , I finally heard the "Call to Prayer!!" Quite impressive!
And it was SOOOO hot. The sweat was dripping off us! Fortunately, we were near a juice bar so Suzanne ordered us each a lemon mint juice. Very refreshing! Sitting outside the juice bar, we started chatting with a man and woman next to us. She is from the UK, visiting her daughter's family for her granddaughter's wedding. He is her Bahraini son-in-law!! She's been visiting Bahrain every year since 1980 when her daughter married the Bahraini after meeting at university in England!! He was dressed Western style but told us he's a Muslim. His daughter and her new husband are of the Bahai sect from Iran. They shared wedding photos with us and were a just delightful mother-in-law/son-in-law combination.
By this time we were still hot and we were beginning to be hungry. So we returned to Walid's, made some purchases, walked back to the car and continued on to City Centre Mall, a multi-storied, air conditioned, sleek and modern mall, comparable to the finest mall in the US. We had lunch at PF Chiang's amid women in full abaya and hijab with their children in total Western dress!! How do they eat? We didn't watch.....didn't want to be rude!!!
Anyway, an area full of contrasts!!!
We had another relaxing evening last night. Peter played "Monster Doggie" with the boys in the pool; they loved it! We all sat down for a delicious home-made dinner and settled down for an evening of TV football, the 1PM Sunday game, on at 8 PM here. We're trying to figure out how to watch the Patriots Monday night game---4:30 AM Tues. Bahrain time!!!
I woke up this morning feeling like my internal GPS was finally working. The neighborhood looked familiar and I could have found my way to the Navy base by myself. In Juffair, where the Mirisolas live, there are private villas with an entrance gate right on the street and a stucco wall around the whole property, most of it only a few feet from the walls of the house, dividing it from the villas next door and behind it. There are also many high rise apartment buildings with few apartments occupied and many other apartment buildings under construction or construction halted!! All of the rest of the space is empty sand lots, some used as parking lots, some just waiting for future construction. Hardly anything green amid the whitish houses and lots!! Lots of cranes visible in the air!!
Suzanne taught her 8 AM Spinning class and I walked 40 laps (3 miles) around the track, ending with some yoga. At home, showered and left with Peter for Bab al Bahrain, the biggest Souq (market area) in downtown Manama, capital of Bahrain. We drove by the Summer Palace and the Grand Mosque again and then reached the financial district. What a contrast!! Beautiful, COMPLETED sky-scrapers, interesting shapes (one shaped like a screw!) full of blue and green glass and very nicely landscaped!!
We parked in a public, PAVED lot and walked to the Souq, a huge area with large, air conditioned buildings surrounding hot alleys of small and tiny shops selling fabric, clothing, herbs and nuts, jewelry , kitchen objects, toys, almost anything you could want or need. All purchase prices subject to discussion! And all merchants trying to lure you into their shops! We stopped in briefly at Wahid's trinket shop; Suzanne's a regular there!! Suzanne then bought some fabric for a couple of tunics. Peter bought a new watch band and had it put on. And, in the middle of our ambling around the Souq , I finally heard the "Call to Prayer!!" Quite impressive!
And it was SOOOO hot. The sweat was dripping off us! Fortunately, we were near a juice bar so Suzanne ordered us each a lemon mint juice. Very refreshing! Sitting outside the juice bar, we started chatting with a man and woman next to us. She is from the UK, visiting her daughter's family for her granddaughter's wedding. He is her Bahraini son-in-law!! She's been visiting Bahrain every year since 1980 when her daughter married the Bahraini after meeting at university in England!! He was dressed Western style but told us he's a Muslim. His daughter and her new husband are of the Bahai sect from Iran. They shared wedding photos with us and were a just delightful mother-in-law/son-in-law combination.
By this time we were still hot and we were beginning to be hungry. So we returned to Walid's, made some purchases, walked back to the car and continued on to City Centre Mall, a multi-storied, air conditioned, sleek and modern mall, comparable to the finest mall in the US. We had lunch at PF Chiang's amid women in full abaya and hijab with their children in total Western dress!! How do they eat? We didn't watch.....didn't want to be rude!!!
Anyway, an area full of contrasts!!!
Sunday, September 28, 2014
Sunday-Back to School and Work!!
Sunday September 28
It's definitely Sunday but certainly feels like Monday! Pete went to work, kids went to school. Lucas couldn't find his backpack! Missed the bus, found it!! So Suz is driving him to school! Doesn't feel at all like Sunday!! I've arrived on Bahraini time!! It's 8 AM here, 1 AM in Harwich!!
Yesterday after lunch at the base, we retired at home after 2 to a lazy afternoon. Naps, TV until time to prepare dinner. Dinner was a grand affair in the dining room with china and crystal. After showers, the kids went to bed and the adults discussed the history and state of Bahraini and Arab affairs. No, we didn't come up with any answers!! Pete has loaned me two books by Bernard Lewis which I hope will enlighten me!! I retired about 10, very tired. But Peter had taken a long nap and I was sound asleep when he crawled in next to me in our bed on the third floor.
This morning......disaster!!! No water! I did manage to wash my face before it was all gone! Suzanne's landlord, Abdul Rahman, arrived to change the water pump from the water tank on the ground floor to the one on the top floor. Charming man, eager to chat, very good English. He changed the pump in his "work" thobe!
Suz, Peter and I went on a short sightseeing tour past the royal family's Summer Palace and the Grand Mosque to the National Museum for a tour of exhibits of Bahrain's culture and lifestyle. Clothing, wedding customs, birthing of children and a model souq or market were among the exhibits. In Bahraini culture, the groom's family takes care of all wedding arrangements! Part of the ancient archeological artifacts at the museum are burial mounds, rock and sand formations with compartments for more than one body. These were made in large groups like cemeteries between 2800 BC and 630 AD and are still visible in the desert.
We dropped Peter back at the villa about 11 and drove to the base where Suzanne taught her spinning class and I did 40 laps around the track. After doing a few errands, we picked Peter up and drove to Megamart, a sort of Super Target with groceries and department store items. Also checked out a "cold store," the Bahraini answer to a 7-11!!
While we were on base , Peter had a long discussion with Rahman. When he was young, Shia and Sunni got along well and he had many Shia friends. Over the years the Shia and Sunni have become enemies because off Iran's influence and the widening gap between the haves and have-nots. Like most Sunnis in Bahrain, he and his wife are upper middle class and own real estate (two villas that they rent to Americans) and have government pensions (she was a teacher). The Shia tend to be poor and a drive through Shia neighborhoods confirms that....tenement like housing, lots of anti-government graffiti, trash and scars from tire fires and molotov cocktails from anti-government protests. These protests are dealt with in a very heavy handed manner and most protesters are thrown in jail. He's sad about all this and also feels badly that these conditions and the radical Muslim elements in the wider Middle East give all Muslims around the world a very bad name. Peter was left feeling that if more people could sit and talk to a Muslim like Rahman (albeit it was a one sided conversation) we'd all feel better about the Muslim world. This is another example of how travel gets us out of our "echo chamber" and gives us a different perspective. Rahman is a wonderful man and Peter was glad to have had the opportunity to talk to him.
It's definitely Sunday but certainly feels like Monday! Pete went to work, kids went to school. Lucas couldn't find his backpack! Missed the bus, found it!! So Suz is driving him to school! Doesn't feel at all like Sunday!! I've arrived on Bahraini time!! It's 8 AM here, 1 AM in Harwich!!
Yesterday after lunch at the base, we retired at home after 2 to a lazy afternoon. Naps, TV until time to prepare dinner. Dinner was a grand affair in the dining room with china and crystal. After showers, the kids went to bed and the adults discussed the history and state of Bahraini and Arab affairs. No, we didn't come up with any answers!! Pete has loaned me two books by Bernard Lewis which I hope will enlighten me!! I retired about 10, very tired. But Peter had taken a long nap and I was sound asleep when he crawled in next to me in our bed on the third floor.
This morning......disaster!!! No water! I did manage to wash my face before it was all gone! Suzanne's landlord, Abdul Rahman, arrived to change the water pump from the water tank on the ground floor to the one on the top floor. Charming man, eager to chat, very good English. He changed the pump in his "work" thobe!
Suz, Peter and I went on a short sightseeing tour past the royal family's Summer Palace and the Grand Mosque to the National Museum for a tour of exhibits of Bahrain's culture and lifestyle. Clothing, wedding customs, birthing of children and a model souq or market were among the exhibits. In Bahraini culture, the groom's family takes care of all wedding arrangements! Part of the ancient archeological artifacts at the museum are burial mounds, rock and sand formations with compartments for more than one body. These were made in large groups like cemeteries between 2800 BC and 630 AD and are still visible in the desert.
We dropped Peter back at the villa about 11 and drove to the base where Suzanne taught her spinning class and I did 40 laps around the track. After doing a few errands, we picked Peter up and drove to Megamart, a sort of Super Target with groceries and department store items. Also checked out a "cold store," the Bahraini answer to a 7-11!!
While we were on base , Peter had a long discussion with Rahman. When he was young, Shia and Sunni got along well and he had many Shia friends. Over the years the Shia and Sunni have become enemies because off Iran's influence and the widening gap between the haves and have-nots. Like most Sunnis in Bahrain, he and his wife are upper middle class and own real estate (two villas that they rent to Americans) and have government pensions (she was a teacher). The Shia tend to be poor and a drive through Shia neighborhoods confirms that....tenement like housing, lots of anti-government graffiti, trash and scars from tire fires and molotov cocktails from anti-government protests. These protests are dealt with in a very heavy handed manner and most protesters are thrown in jail. He's sad about all this and also feels badly that these conditions and the radical Muslim elements in the wider Middle East give all Muslims around the world a very bad name. Peter was left feeling that if more people could sit and talk to a Muslim like Rahman (albeit it was a one sided conversation) we'd all feel better about the Muslim world. This is another example of how travel gets us out of our "echo chamber" and gives us a different perspective. Rahman is a wonderful man and Peter was glad to have had the opportunity to talk to him.
Saturday, September 27, 2014
Really Saturday except School/Work Tomorrow
Saturday September 27
Yesterday while Suzanne and I were on base at the gym , Peter and Pete took Nick and Lucas to rugby practice at the British Rugby Club. After practice they all had a British breakfast and the men had a pint.
Last night we went to a wine tasting party hosted by Suzanne's friend Julie, a Naval Commander , Supply Corps Officer. It was a fundraiser for the Supply Corps Foundation, held in a high rise building with a commanding view of downtown Manama. Great dinner of local food served with 4 courses of Italian wines.
The venue was awesome, saw all of their friends from last night and met several more. We met Pete's boss whose wife and daughters live in Virginia and the daughters both attend UVA. Also Meggan and her husband who works for NCIS; we all called him Mark Harmon!! At evening's end, we drove back to Mirisolas followed by the babysitter's parents; Dan, a civilian expert on Naval warfare who works with Pete and Heidi, a friend of Suzanne's. AND they used to live in Prince William County!!! The world does get smaller and smaller!!
This morning we left in a hurry to drive the short distance to the base, NSA (Naval Support Activity) Bahrain, for a morning full of basketball games. At the base we had to relinquish our passports and get visitor passes that stated we must be accompanied at all times. The base is pretty large, all of the buildings are built of sand colored cement but there are green oases, small parks, trees and flowers.
Lucas' game, for 5 and 6 year old boys and girls, was quite good. Not many rules followed but you knew they had the gist of the game. Two baskets by Lucas!! The other 2 games were also coed and were held in the main gym where I walked yesterday. It was almost 1 when the last game ended so we had lunch at the base. Pete, Suz, Peter and I had shawarma, a local treat! Chicken or lamb with veggies, sauce and french fries folded into a pita. Mmmm! Home again where we ALL collapsed for a while.
Temp outside today at 3:
94 degrees!!
Yesterday while Suzanne and I were on base at the gym , Peter and Pete took Nick and Lucas to rugby practice at the British Rugby Club. After practice they all had a British breakfast and the men had a pint.
Last night we went to a wine tasting party hosted by Suzanne's friend Julie, a Naval Commander , Supply Corps Officer. It was a fundraiser for the Supply Corps Foundation, held in a high rise building with a commanding view of downtown Manama. Great dinner of local food served with 4 courses of Italian wines.
The venue was awesome, saw all of their friends from last night and met several more. We met Pete's boss whose wife and daughters live in Virginia and the daughters both attend UVA. Also Meggan and her husband who works for NCIS; we all called him Mark Harmon!! At evening's end, we drove back to Mirisolas followed by the babysitter's parents; Dan, a civilian expert on Naval warfare who works with Pete and Heidi, a friend of Suzanne's. AND they used to live in Prince William County!!! The world does get smaller and smaller!!
This morning we left in a hurry to drive the short distance to the base, NSA (Naval Support Activity) Bahrain, for a morning full of basketball games. At the base we had to relinquish our passports and get visitor passes that stated we must be accompanied at all times. The base is pretty large, all of the buildings are built of sand colored cement but there are green oases, small parks, trees and flowers.
Lucas' game, for 5 and 6 year old boys and girls, was quite good. Not many rules followed but you knew they had the gist of the game. Two baskets by Lucas!! The other 2 games were also coed and were held in the main gym where I walked yesterday. It was almost 1 when the last game ended so we had lunch at the base. Pete, Suz, Peter and I had shawarma, a local treat! Chicken or lamb with veggies, sauce and french fries folded into a pita. Mmmm! Home again where we ALL collapsed for a while.
Temp outside today at 3:
94 degrees!!
Friday, September 26, 2014
Friday is our Saturday
Friday Sept 26
Last night we drove to Amwaj, a man-made island, 15 minutes from where Suzanne and Pete live in Juffair. It's a residential area where some military and ex-pats live and where Saudis vacation. We even passed Michael Jackson's former palatial residence!! Suzanne' s friend Julie and her husband Chong live there in a magnificent home on the beach. They are a two Naval officer family. We met several friends, drank wine, chatted and had dinner. Very enjoyable evening!! They are all very interesting people and a wonderful support group. Michelle's husband is a Navy pilot, Rachel's husband is a SEAL and was JUST unexpectedly deployed and Christina, whose husband is XO of the base, has relatives in East Harwich.
This morning, Pete, Peter, Nick and Lucus went to rugby practice while Suz and I went to the base where she taught a spinning class and I walked 3 miles and did 20 minutes of yoga. Did a little shopping afterwards and then went back to Mirisolas for a swim in their pool. Fairly lazy afternoon. No school or work today because it's the Muslim Holy Day
The Mirisola house is quite large, 4000 sq. ft. ? It's in a urban neighborhood with sky scraper apartments across the street The house itself is stucco with a stucco fence around it. Outside the entry is a covered space on the side walk for one car...there's another space inside the entry courtyard for another vehicle. This courtyard itself contains a pool that is 25x20 and a couple of lounge areas with pool furniture. The pool are is covered with a fabric roof. Lots of desert plants are used as accents.
In the house on the first floor are a HUGE eat- in kitchen, laundry room , bathroom, pool room and dining room. Up the center stairway are an office area, 2 large bedrooms with a bath and a master with bath. Up on the third floor are a large family room/ guest room with bath and a roof top deck. WOW!!! The first floor is tiled; the second and third floors are wood. All floors are accented with oriental rugs.
Nice to have some relaxing time. Lucas goes to a birthday party at 3. The adults will attend a wine-tasting party this evening.
Last night we drove to Amwaj, a man-made island, 15 minutes from where Suzanne and Pete live in Juffair. It's a residential area where some military and ex-pats live and where Saudis vacation. We even passed Michael Jackson's former palatial residence!! Suzanne' s friend Julie and her husband Chong live there in a magnificent home on the beach. They are a two Naval officer family. We met several friends, drank wine, chatted and had dinner. Very enjoyable evening!! They are all very interesting people and a wonderful support group. Michelle's husband is a Navy pilot, Rachel's husband is a SEAL and was JUST unexpectedly deployed and Christina, whose husband is XO of the base, has relatives in East Harwich.
This morning, Pete, Peter, Nick and Lucus went to rugby practice while Suz and I went to the base where she taught a spinning class and I walked 3 miles and did 20 minutes of yoga. Did a little shopping afterwards and then went back to Mirisolas for a swim in their pool. Fairly lazy afternoon. No school or work today because it's the Muslim Holy Day
The Mirisola house is quite large, 4000 sq. ft. ? It's in a urban neighborhood with sky scraper apartments across the street The house itself is stucco with a stucco fence around it. Outside the entry is a covered space on the side walk for one car...there's another space inside the entry courtyard for another vehicle. This courtyard itself contains a pool that is 25x20 and a couple of lounge areas with pool furniture. The pool are is covered with a fabric roof. Lots of desert plants are used as accents.
In the house on the first floor are a HUGE eat- in kitchen, laundry room , bathroom, pool room and dining room. Up the center stairway are an office area, 2 large bedrooms with a bath and a master with bath. Up on the third floor are a large family room/ guest room with bath and a roof top deck. WOW!!! The first floor is tiled; the second and third floors are wood. All floors are accented with oriental rugs.
Nice to have some relaxing time. Lucas goes to a birthday party at 3. The adults will attend a wine-tasting party this evening.
Thursday, September 25, 2014
Thursday Sept. 25 2014
WE'RE HERE!!!!
We arrived at Mirisolas last night just before 11 PM. Actually we were in decent shape considering we'd been traveling for 24 hours. The Lufthansa flights were uneventful, food okay, seats pretty comfortable. The segment to Frankfurt we sat in a section for 3 and had it to ourselves. The second segment to Bahrain with a stop in Doha, Qtar, we sat in a section for 4 with no one else!l Since they were both night flights, we also had blankets and very comfortable pillows. Again, decent food and free wine!! So, we have been in two of the Arab States that have joined the coalition for air attacks against ISIS (L).
It's very hot and humid here!! The air conditioning in the house helps but it doesn't wash the sand from outside the windows! Pete was home when we arrived just before 11, the first night he'd been home in a couple of days!! We toured their spacious home, had some snacks and wind before retiring at midnight.
This morning we slept until after 9!! Hallelujah!!! The kids had already left for school and Pete for work so we had a leisurely hour before leaving for the Bahrain School and volleyball practice. At the Bahrain School we saw a Navy guard with automatic weapon. We relinquished our pass ports for visitor passes at the entrance, saw Lucas and Serena (big hugs!!),and watched Suz take the kids through drills, I walked and did some yoga in the gym. Met the IB coordinator and had a nice chat.
After practice Suz let us off on American Alley while she picked up Nick at a birthday party. Saw pizza places, a Fudrucker's, Baskin Robbins, Cinnabon McDonald,s and other "American" places. We even saw a couple of Arab men in thobes topped with baseball caps. It was 97 degrees while we sat outdoors and sipped our Starbucks. We met 2 Indians and one Egyptian who worked as barristas, very friendly, very good English. I bought a Bahrain Starbucks mug for a souvenir for 4.000 BDs. Peter's burger and water cost 3,92 BDs at Fudrucker's. We then sat on the shady side of the street and it was still 97 but breezy. Suzanne picked is up at 2, we greeted Nick with hugs all around and went home to relax until our next activity at 4.
WE'RE HERE!!!!
We arrived at Mirisolas last night just before 11 PM. Actually we were in decent shape considering we'd been traveling for 24 hours. The Lufthansa flights were uneventful, food okay, seats pretty comfortable. The segment to Frankfurt we sat in a section for 3 and had it to ourselves. The second segment to Bahrain with a stop in Doha, Qtar, we sat in a section for 4 with no one else!l Since they were both night flights, we also had blankets and very comfortable pillows. Again, decent food and free wine!! So, we have been in two of the Arab States that have joined the coalition for air attacks against ISIS (L).
It's very hot and humid here!! The air conditioning in the house helps but it doesn't wash the sand from outside the windows! Pete was home when we arrived just before 11, the first night he'd been home in a couple of days!! We toured their spacious home, had some snacks and wind before retiring at midnight.
This morning we slept until after 9!! Hallelujah!!! The kids had already left for school and Pete for work so we had a leisurely hour before leaving for the Bahrain School and volleyball practice. At the Bahrain School we saw a Navy guard with automatic weapon. We relinquished our pass ports for visitor passes at the entrance, saw Lucas and Serena (big hugs!!),and watched Suz take the kids through drills, I walked and did some yoga in the gym. Met the IB coordinator and had a nice chat.
After practice Suz let us off on American Alley while she picked up Nick at a birthday party. Saw pizza places, a Fudrucker's, Baskin Robbins, Cinnabon McDonald,s and other "American" places. We even saw a couple of Arab men in thobes topped with baseball caps. It was 97 degrees while we sat outdoors and sipped our Starbucks. We met 2 Indians and one Egyptian who worked as barristas, very friendly, very good English. I bought a Bahrain Starbucks mug for a souvenir for 4.000 BDs. Peter's burger and water cost 3,92 BDs at Fudrucker's. We then sat on the shady side of the street and it was still 97 but breezy. Suzanne picked is up at 2, we greeted Nick with hugs all around and went home to relax until our next activity at 4.
Tuesday, September 23, 2014
What a Beginning!!
Tuesday Sept. 23, 2015
WHAT A BEGINNING!!
It's a good thing we decided to give ourselves plenty of time!! We left the Cape on the 4:40 bus to Logan and arrived at 6:30 for a 9:35 departure to London. At the British Airways counter we were told our flight was delayed an hour and we would not make the connection in London for Bahrain. After considering the options we were given, we decided to rebook on a Lufthansa flight through Munich. Now we'll be arriving in Bahrain 3 hours later than the original flight. Instead of arriving at 7 PM Bahrain time, we will arrive at 10:30 PM Bahrain time tomorrow. So all is well......
BUT how to contact Suzanne about the change?? It was then 3 AM in Bahrain!! We decided to call Mike at the Red Nun and ask him to call Suzanne at midnight (7 AM in Bahrain) to tell her of the change. Thanks, Mike!! AND, we're going to get 2 meals instead of just one!!
All's well that ends well!! I hope that's not a premature pronouncement!
WHAT A BEGINNING!!
It's a good thing we decided to give ourselves plenty of time!! We left the Cape on the 4:40 bus to Logan and arrived at 6:30 for a 9:35 departure to London. At the British Airways counter we were told our flight was delayed an hour and we would not make the connection in London for Bahrain. After considering the options we were given, we decided to rebook on a Lufthansa flight through Munich. Now we'll be arriving in Bahrain 3 hours later than the original flight. Instead of arriving at 7 PM Bahrain time, we will arrive at 10:30 PM Bahrain time tomorrow. So all is well......
BUT how to contact Suzanne about the change?? It was then 3 AM in Bahrain!! We decided to call Mike at the Red Nun and ask him to call Suzanne at midnight (7 AM in Bahrain) to tell her of the change. Thanks, Mike!! AND, we're going to get 2 meals instead of just one!!
All's well that ends well!! I hope that's not a premature pronouncement!
Monday, September 22, 2014
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