July 9, 2008

• Märit in Oman

  When my sister Märit decided to come and visit me in June, she knew what she was in for - soaring temperatures. Still, it was quite funny when she told me what happend as she stepped out of the aircraft at Muscat Airport. She said she felt this stream of hot air coming against her and she thought she was walking behind one of the jet engines still spewing out hot air. She just could not believe it when she realised (a few seconds later) that this was actually the local temperature.

  I gave Märit a lot of suggestions of things to do in Oman, but she definitely gravitated towards all things to do with the sea or swimming pools.

  

  We experimented a bit with timings, and in the end decided that arriving at the beach around 5.00 pm worked best. This is the time when the locals start to arrive at the beach anyway - mostly to run or play football. Märit - committed to a sun and beach holiday - did not exactly disappear in a crowd of sun worshippers.

  

  In fact, there was plenty of space.

  

  With the odd visitor breaking the unrestricted sea view.

  

  Märit worked quite hard at having a relaxing summer break in spite of the extreme heat - and managed quite well, think. At least, she looked the part. 

  

  One of the first things we did after Märit arrived was to arrange a real Swedish Midsummer's Eve Party. In Sweden we celebrate Midsummer's Eve in a big way, with everybody going out into the countryside, eating lots of food, dancing around a maypole and downing vodka shots. I'd been able to buy most of the ingredients needed at IKEA in Dubai, so when around 18 people arrived in my flat on Friday 20 June we were all ready. Our Midsummer's Eve Party spread included:

  • Herring with onion (with salad and new potatoes)
  • Herring with mustard sauce (with salad and new potatoes)
  • Herring and beetroot salad (herring, onion, beetroot and whipped cream)
  • Mr Johnson's Temptation (a creamy potato casserole with onion and anjovis)
  • Swedish meatballs (with lingonberry and cream gravy)
  • Swedish cracker bread with Swedish Priest's Cheese
  • Swedish Princess Cake
  • Swedish blueberry pie

  

  This Omani Midsummer's Eve party turned out to be a fabulous get together! People were seated in three different rooms to make sure everybody had somewhere to sit. Some sat in the living room...

  

  ...some in my library...

  

  ...and some in the bedroom...

  

  Even though there was no dancing around the maypole, this was still one of my most memorable Midsummer's Eve parties ever. It was relaxing and fun. And I was ever so grateful having Märit there helping peeling all those potatoes and chopping all those onions.

  

  Märit and I managed to fit in other things as well. For example, we went to the local market. Märit worked out pretty quickly that her face went bright red after about 20 minutes in the outdoor heat. This picture is pre-red face.

  

  We spent quite a lot of time at the CityCentre Mall in Muscat. A real winner with Märit as it was all air-conditioned.

  

  We saw some of the sights in Muscat, like the Mutrah sea front.

  

  We also drove up into the mountains nearby Nizwa. Here, at Hatt, the temperature was more like in Europe.

  

  Even though Hatt might not be very well known among tourists, Omanis know about this beautiful spot. A few minutes after Märit and I arrived, we had company.

  

  But, as I said, we mainly went swimming. Several times we went to the local pools in Nizwa.

  

  Even though the surroundings look lovely, with 45 C (114 F) in the shade, it's actually only really enjoyable when you're in the pool.

  

  It was great having Märit visit me in Oman! It's not often people pop in to say hello.  

  

  On 3 July, Märit and I flew to Sweden to be there in time for my youngest daughter-in-law's confirmation. Update on that coming shortly.

  • 5:54 am
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