Madeleine

The fourth Muscateer has arrived to our family!

Madeleine Anna Rachel was born on the third of Jumada al-Thani of the Islamic year 1433, or according to the Gregorian calendar, on April 25, 2012.

The family photo shoot

Recently, we had a family photo shoot done by one of our friends here in Muscat, to mark the special time we are going through at the moment (the pictures should tell you why, in case you're wondering). We believe our friend Karienke did a wonderful job and we'd like to share some of the results with you!

Check out Karienke's website to see more of her photography work.

Matilda highlights

Here are some highlights of Matilda’s life from September until December 2011. Our little girl is now over 2.5 years old and talking, singing, negotiating, playing football, building sand castles and the like. She’s going to ‘school’ every morning now, which you could compare to a pre-pre-nursery (peuterzaal), and enjoying very much. These were the months during which Matilda...

...was being potty trained by a team of patient supporters, including her father, mother, nanny Nida, and her grandparents LC. She is now the proud wearer of bright-coloured underwear with cats and dogs and rabbits...

...spent time with friend Luca...achterop de scooter...

 ...spent a night in the Omani desert – never a dull moment

...celebrated the newly arrived furniture shipped from the Ikea store in Dubai...

...started to teach the newly obtained skill of being potty trained to her peers, now being a patient supporter herself

...was impressed by the arrival of St. Nicholas, not only at home – with grandparents B. – but also at PDO club during the traditional annual arrival of St. Nicholas and the corresponding distribution of pepernoten and chocoladeletter goodies

...participated with vigour in the Christmas celebrations at De Karavaan, her school

...had to say goodbye to one of her best friends, Niels, who moved back to Holland

...enjoyed Christmas in company of friends and family

...was being incredibly helpful in the household with doing the dishes.

...and dressed up like Tom and Jerry – we had never seen her that ecstatic before!

Hopefully the year 2012 will be again full of little and big steps in Matilda’s life!

Zanzibar

Another holiday in Oman and we decided to go to...Zanzibar!
Zanzibar became part of the Sultanate of Oman in 1698 to form the Sultanate of Oman and Zanzibar. Around 1840, Sultan Said ibn Sultan moved his capital from Muscat to Stone Town. After his death in 1856, his two sons divided the two countries, Majid became Sultan of Zanzibar, and Thuwaini Sultan of Oman. Of course, we see a lot of East African influence in the Omani culture, now it's time to see the Arabic influence on Zanzibar.

Zanzibar once was a Sultanate with a true Sultan.

Sultan Said ibn Sultan

The first days, we walked the narrow streets of Stone Town.



The new capital, Zanzibar City borders directly on Stone Town, and shows the evidence of communist times.

After two days of Stone Town, we crossed the Island to Jambiani on the East Coast, where one of the main sources of income is the harvest of seaweed for Sushi.

Women harvesting Seaweed and a beautiful Dhow

We walked the beach, and Matilda soon found kids to play with.

You cannot visit Spice Island without seeing a spice farm

Vanilla!

Next we visited Jozani forest, where we saw monkeys...

Red Colobus monkey

....and Mangroves!

Matilda and Aap performed a traditional dance.

One last picture of Matilda with Daddy....

...and with Mommy....

...with her growing belly!







The Royal Opera House in Muscat

Finally, after years of construction and anticipation, the new Royal Opera House in Muscat has opened its doors. This impressive project was already well underway when we arrived here in 2009. One year later, towards the end of 2010, everyone expected it to open soon: it was His Majesty Sultan Qaboos’ 40^th anniversary of being ruler of the country, which asked for a lot of ceremony and celebration –the inauguration of such a cultural icon would have suited perfectly. But no, construction took longer than expected and it was only recently, in October, that this ‘magnificent step in the cultural development of the country’ – as the media like to describe it, was taken.

Those of you who have visited us in Oman will remember the construction of this project, as it is situated close to our home and one cannot miss it while passing it along the highway. Curious how the final result looks like? Take a look here (pictures are kindly copied from the ROHM website www.rohmuscat.org.om):

The inaugural season has not exactly been a ‘soft opening’ for the opera house. We were amazed by what the provincial town of Muscat has been able to offer us: Placido Domingo, Andrea Bocelli, London Philharmonic Orchestra, operas like Carmen and ballets like Swan Lake – and this is only the calendar for the first three months! Muscat has placed itself on the cultural map of the Middle East – it is the only Opera House in this part of the world except for Cairo, but I doubt if Placido and Andrea have performed there as well.

You’ll understand we are very happy with this new addition to culture and nightlife, turning sleepy Muscat into a somewhat more cosmopolitan place, and we have acquired tickets for a number of shows. Last month we had the pleasure to see the ballet ‘Don Quixote’ performed by the American Ballet Theatre. It was a delightful evening.

Albania!?!

Albania is number 1 in the Lonly Planet ‘s list of top 10 countries for 2011, and more important our friends Erik and Marija moved to Tirana. Reasons enough to pay a visit!

Tirana is a lively city. Maybe not the most beautiful architecture, but this is largely compensated by loads of bars, restaurants and parks.

Not so nice architecture; the former Enver Hoxha museum designed by his daughter Pranvera. 

Loads of nice places to eat, drink, or launder your criminal money...

Lots of green in Tirana.

Splendid interior of an old mosque in Tirana.

We visited a Venetian Mask factory in Shkoder, a remarkable display of entrepreneurship. The owner worked as so many Albanians in Italy, and started this factory back home. Now he has several shops in Venice, and Las Vegas, and made the masks for the movie 'Eyes wide shut'!

Beautiful masks!

Inspired by the novels by Ismail Kadare, and ‘Herberg met het Hoefijzer’ ('Inn with the Horseshoe' , a classic for the dutchies), we decided to make a trip to the valley of Teth in the North of the country. This valley is closed half of the year because the road is inaccessible due to snow, a spectacular ride!

When the going gets tough.....

This region is also known for it’s traditional law or ‘Kuna’, which is the subject of Ismail Kadare’s novel ‘Broken April’:
....After shooting the murderer of his brother, young Gjorg Berisha has a period of 30 days to pay his blood money. When this truce finishes he has two options, either go back to his village and be sure to get killed by one of the brothers of his victim, or allow himself to be locked up in a windowless tower or ‘Kulla’ for the rest of his life....
Truly, life in North Albania in the 1920’s could not have been that dark!
Or can it?

The windowless 'Kulla' of Teth.

But as long as you do not kill anybody accidentally, the valley is quite beautiful.

While Matilda explored the surroundings...

The rest of us enjoyed some local food and drinks:

Why do all Albanian men wear suits at all times?

After our adventures in the mountains, we paid a visit to Berat, a candidate to become Unesco word heritage site:

Beautiful Berat!

 Matilda developed the new sport of "Dop Drinken" (or drinking from the cap).

Matilda showing the art of 'Dop Drinken" to Daddy and Aap.

Albania, what a country! It definitively gets our stamp of approval as a fantastic holiday destination, spectacular landscapes, culture and history, friendly people, and our German friends just might find their car back!

"Gib mir mein Mercedes zurück!"

A big Thank You to Erik and Marija for their kind hospitality!