Arrival in Oman

Just a quick post to say that I've arrived safely in Oman. The flights went fairly well, though my knees were happy to stretch when we finally landed in Qatar and then Oman. I was amazed by how my heart soared to be in the Middle East again--I hadn't realized how much I missed it after my archaeological experiences many years ago. Not too much to report yet, except that our accomodations are nice, the hills and gulf are spectacular, and the group we're with is really interesting. The Al Amana Centre here is doing some good work for peace and cultural understanding. So far we've traveled to the Grand Mosque in Muscat, Oman, had some good conversation, and enjoyed some excellent food. Added a new dish for me--camel. Tasty! And we've been here less than 14 hours. I've attached a few photos...