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 and had been kind enough to ease me gently into the day.
He took them out for a little exploration while I had breakfast and got dressed and we headed out to explore. We spotted lots of mosques along the way, making a game of how many we could count (my eldest son winning by far), driving through the CBD area of Ruwi with its ornate clock tower and onto the Mutrah Corniche where we stopped to take some photos and go for a stroll. This is a very picturesque part of town with the main attraction being the Souq and surrounding shops, restaurants and cafes.
Before getting yourself lost in the Souq and surrounding alleyways, go for a walk and gaze up at the Mutrah Fort which, in it’s current form, was built by the Portuguese in the 1580’s. 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.
Head back along the corniche and enjoy the souq, stopping to admire the stalls of local fashion and crafts. Make sure you look up a the beautiful ceiling of the main covered area.
Afterwards, enjoy a fresh juice or smoothie and a traditional shawarma sandwich and 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 up until sunset when iftar (breakfast) began after the days’ fast.
Choose a time outside of Eid and preferably outside of Ramadan when sites and attractions are more likely to be open and it is not only acceptable but possible to eat and drink in public during the day. This is especially the case when Ramadan falls in the hot Summer months.