Nizwa and the Al Hoota Caves

An unfortunately late start from Muscat Friday morning meant that we missed the famous live goat and camel auction at the Nizwa market, but we did see the beautiful old 17th century fort with its striking circular keep and poked around in the ruins running alongside; amazing construction, mostly rocks stuck together with mud, wooden framed windows and doors; old. old, beautifully carved wooden doors.

ancient doorway- but still standing

entrance to the old fort

Clay water jugs - filled with water and kept cool through evaporation

yet another beautiful old door

Beautiful courtyard in afternoon sunlight- men and boys just leaving mosque

abandoned homes - how old?

  I think the doors are one of the most beautiful details of this beautiful country - never, even on a garage or a shed, do you see a boring, plain door.  They are colorful, decorative and usually very brightly colored, richly carved, and of all sizes. Very, very few windows are ever square or rectangular but of that beautiful rounded to a point at the top shape, I think it looks Persian - must do some research. They are lovely!!

We had reserved spots to tour the Al Hoota caves outside of Nizwa and drove on through lovely countryside, small villages, oasis and the towering Al Hajjar Mountain range above us.  These caves are over 2 million years old, discovered by a goat shepherd in 1960 when he lost one of his herd and while searching for it, found one of the openings. They stretch over 5 km underground, and we were able to tour, with a guide, through parts of them, now partially lit by electricity and with  walkways and steps.  Huge stalagtites and stalagmites,  deep caverns and enormous precariously perched boulders all along the way.  No photos allowed, but such a beautiful place.  Only three animals live in the caverns - a small bat, a type of spider, and in the very dark, very black lake, a blind fish. We actually managed to tour through it without Jim making me jump out of my skin!  I asked our guide if anything ever shifted or fell from the ceiling and he explained that they have "glasses" strategically placed throughout and if there is any breakage they will close the caves.  But for how long, I wondered??  And what are these "glasses"?The limestone sides were very smooth and in places, the vast ceiling was very low and so completely flat above our heads.  An amazing place.
An interesting and very beautiful drive back to Muscat but unfortunately, we arrived back to a very ill Elaine - not sure if it was food poisoning or the flu but by 9 PM we were at the Muscat Private Hospital with her and she ended spending the night there, on an IV to counteract dehydration.  Not something to fool around with in a desert country.  So, our trip to Cyprus has been delayed for a few days, to give her time to get back on her feet, poor girl!
We are stuck in a very beautiful, interesting place, for a few more days, with the most wonderful hosts, things could be so much worse.