How did it become January 22nd and I haven't blogged about this? I think I honestly thought I had...
Anyways, Skip arrived safe and sound as reported in that quick post back at the beginning of January. He luckily caught the end of Colin's Christmas break so Colin was home about half the time and then back to work for the last half. We still managed to show him around and have a great time. Here are some highlights.
- Aberly didn't cry! Okay, that sounds silly but since Aberly had been going through a stage that started around, oh, 7 months, of crying whenever Papa Skip showed up, this was phenomenal. She was definitely wary and shy, but not a tear was shed! She took right up to him being around each day, him going places with us, and playing with him. She never let him hold her, but they held hands one day coming home. I think Skip hasn't wash that hand since. She still asks about him, along with all her grandparents, and knows that he is "bye bye far away". She also remembers that he brought her two new sippy cups and reminds us a few times a week when using them.
- Dive Center trip: We take all visitors here because it's relaxing, beautiful, and a great beach cove. Skip loved dipping his toes in the tepid ocean, laying the perfectly warm sunshine, playing in the sand and ocean with Aberly, and finishing off the afternoon with a lunch and shared bottle of wine on the patio restaurant.
- Grand Mosque and Palace. Must sees for tourist here in Muscat. Colin and Skip enjoyed a morning together at the mosque and we all toured around the Palace grounds. We had hoped to scale a mountain path we could see behind the palace that led to some forts but it was gated off.
- Nizwa: Skip and I adventured out to Nizwa to see some classic Oman. Colin was at work and Aberly headed to a friend's house for the day. We could've brought her but she had already been and it's a 4 hour drive round trip. On the way home, Skip and I found our way to a traditional Omani graveyard that we had seen from the highway. Traditional Omani burial is simply marked by two rocks at the head and foot, although sometimes you will find ones with rocks around the body. The graveyard must have been 100's of years old. It was very expansive and FULL of rock markers. You couldn't really be sure in some areas where the individual graves were with so many rocks. I will try to blog on this more later.
- Daily life: Hanging with friends, touring the school, enjoying local restaurants! Skip was also lucky enough to be here for our neighbor's yearly "Chili Cook-off" night and got to meet many of our friends.
All in all, a great trip. Just as Nancy and my parents said after their visits, "he'll be back".
However, as much as we loved having Skip, it also marked the end of all our visitors and a chance to get back to just the three of us. We were SO BLESSED to have all our parents (and Andrew) come to see us but we have enjoyed getting back to our normal routine and quiet house. Visitors are always loved and welcomed, but it's tiring at the same time! Despite that, of course, we look forward to any and all our future visitors and those that come again. Oman is truly a place to be treasured!
Happy Traveling!
Anyways, Skip arrived safe and sound as reported in that quick post back at the beginning of January. He luckily caught the end of Colin's Christmas break so Colin was home about half the time and then back to work for the last half. We still managed to show him around and have a great time. Here are some highlights.
- Aberly didn't cry! Okay, that sounds silly but since Aberly had been going through a stage that started around, oh, 7 months, of crying whenever Papa Skip showed up, this was phenomenal. She was definitely wary and shy, but not a tear was shed! She took right up to him being around each day, him going places with us, and playing with him. She never let him hold her, but they held hands one day coming home. I think Skip hasn't wash that hand since. She still asks about him, along with all her grandparents, and knows that he is "bye bye far away". She also remembers that he brought her two new sippy cups and reminds us a few times a week when using them.
- Grand Mosque and Palace. Must sees for tourist here in Muscat. Colin and Skip enjoyed a morning together at the mosque and we all toured around the Palace grounds. We had hoped to scale a mountain path we could see behind the palace that led to some forts but it was gated off.
- Nizwa: Skip and I adventured out to Nizwa to see some classic Oman. Colin was at work and Aberly headed to a friend's house for the day. We could've brought her but she had already been and it's a 4 hour drive round trip. On the way home, Skip and I found our way to a traditional Omani graveyard that we had seen from the highway. Traditional Omani burial is simply marked by two rocks at the head and foot, although sometimes you will find ones with rocks around the body. The graveyard must have been 100's of years old. It was very expansive and FULL of rock markers. You couldn't really be sure in some areas where the individual graves were with so many rocks. I will try to blog on this more later.
- Daily life: Hanging with friends, touring the school, enjoying local restaurants! Skip was also lucky enough to be here for our neighbor's yearly "Chili Cook-off" night and got to meet many of our friends.
All in all, a great trip. Just as Nancy and my parents said after their visits, "he'll be back".
However, as much as we loved having Skip, it also marked the end of all our visitors and a chance to get back to just the three of us. We were SO BLESSED to have all our parents (and Andrew) come to see us but we have enjoyed getting back to our normal routine and quiet house. Visitors are always loved and welcomed, but it's tiring at the same time! Despite that, of course, we look forward to any and all our future visitors and those that come again. Oman is truly a place to be treasured!
Happy Traveling!
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