Mutrah Corniche

I awoke this morning to a cup of tea on my nightstand, followed closely by a glass of muesli with fruit & Laban. This doesn’t happen very often but this morning my husband had been up for half an hour playing with the boys. He has been kind enough to ease me gently into the day.

He takes them out for a little exploration while I have my breakfast and get dressed. Then we head out to explore.  There are a lot of mosques along the way as we drive towards the Corniche. We make a game, counting how many we can spot. Jasper (6 years) wins by a long shot as we pass through the CBD area of Ruwi with its ornate clock tower. Soon we arrive at the Mutrah Corniche where we stop to take some photos and go for a stroll. This is a very picturesque part of town, the main attraction being the Souq and surrounding shops, restaurants and cafes.

Mutrah Fort

Before getting lost in the Souq and surrounding alleyways, we decide to go for a walk and gaze up at the Mutrah Fort. It was built by the Portuguese in the 1580’s, which only I seem to appreciate in the moment.  The site of the Fort acted as the ancient city’s defenses strategically placed on the rocky outcrop overlooking the harbour. The Portuguese expanded the defenses and fortified the area during their occupation.  There are several smaller forts and watchtowers scattered throughout the city.

Ase we head back along the Corniche to enjoy the souq, we stop along the way to admire the stalls of local fashion and crafts.  Gazing up a the beautiful ceiling of the main covered area in the souq, I’m grateful for what an unusual experience this is.

Afterwards, we enjoy a fresh juices and a traditional shawarma sandwich at one of the many local vendors.

Would I Return?

Yes, but not specifically for the Mutrah Corniche.  I visited during Eid al Fitr when the majority of shops and the museums were closed.  In addition to this all the cafes and restaurants were closed during the day. Literally nothing was open, right up until sunset when iftar (breakfast) began after the days’ fast.

Choose a time outside of Eid and preferably outside of Ramadan. During this time sites and attractions are more likely to be open and/or have longer opening hours. The religious period of Ramadan means that it is generally not acceptable (and sometimes not possible) to eat and drink in public. During daylight hours this can be particularly challenging, especially when Ramadan falls in the hot Summer months.