Anniversary trip to the Mountains

Phew, one year already! Time, it flies. To celebrate, we thought it would be great to leave the city for a getaway. After all, what better way to commemorate being in a country we never thought we'd live in than going to a place we never knew existed?

We chose Hatta, a smaller-than-we-anticipated town an hour from Dubai (or for people like us, two hours on the public bus.) We got to cross the border into Oman even though Hatta is technically in the emirate of Dubai. Surrounded by mountains and without one building exceeding three stories, the place couldn't be more different from the Dubai we know.

We visited Heritage Village, a restored "historical park" that portrays life in the old days (featuring scary mannequins) and from there we climbed to towers that were once used to watch for invaders. This history nerd was disappointed (as much as Rob was relieved) that not one of the informational videos worked. Colonial Williamsburg it definitely was not.

We stayed at the Hatta Fort Hotel, the best (and only) gig in town.

We were really impressed with the service, from the restaurants to the front desk to the kind man who told us he'd pick us up from Heritage Village after one hour because that's all the time you need there (thank you sir!!) There's really nowhere to eat in Hatta (except Popeye's Chicken. What remote Arab village is complete without an American fried chicken joint?,) so we bit the bullet for what we were sure would be a hotel meal average in quality but crazy in price. We ordered Chicken Tikka Masala and Fish Biryani (when in Rome!) and it was one of the best meals we've had since we've been here. There was even a tuxedo-wearing maitre d' who made table side Caesar salads and a singer whose repertoire including everything from Tony Bennet to Maroon 5. Unfortunately, she didn't know our wedding song...I asked when I followed her to saw her in the restroom.

Aside from the gale force winds that were pretty much constant from the time we got there until the time we left, the trip was perfect. And what's a little sand in the mouth and eyes when you're with the one you love?