Some history and conversation

We've been here for two full days now, but it feels like much longer. We've visited a number of places in addition to the mosque--the Sultan's palace, the National Museum, two of the watchtowers guarding the old city of Muscat, and the local souk (marketplace). I've walked down to the fishmarket early in the morning and I've climbed up the nearby hill at sunset. I've seen parrotfish and Dory swimming in the harbour. We've also had a number of conversations about interfaith encounters and learned about Islam from a number of friends of the Al Amana Centre. Tonight we learned about a method of reading each others' sacred texts together in a way that not only allows you to learn about the other but it also gives you deeper insight into your own beliefs and understanding. There's something about hearing what a text sounds like to someone who is reading it for the first time and coming from a very different perspective that allows you to read it afresh yourself. Hopefully I'll sleep better tonight than I did last night. The food continues to be good. Tomorrow we head into the desert to visit some old mosques, a fort, and experience the wilderness.