Heading to Oman

What to do for a weekend in the UAE? Well head to Oman, of course! A coworker and I are going to rent a car in the morning and drive out to Oman. We tried to get a visa today, but had an ordeal.

First off, we went to the US Embassy, where we were greeted first by guys with machine guns (didn't shake me too much), and then by an Arabian security guard outside the consulate. The guy wouldn't help us. He kept saying that, "This is your embassy - it's your land. I cannot keep you out" but in the same breath after we asked to go inside said that he wouldn't let us inside because it wasn't time to let us in. Then he'd turn around and say he couldn't prevent us from going in! Yes, you guessed it - the one export that the US has successfully gotten into the UAE culture is beaurocracy!

Then it was off to the Omani embassy. Again, met by men with machine guns. Once we got in, the staff was like, "Why do you want a visa now? Just get one at the boarder." We said we wanted to be proactive and the hemmed and hawed. Then they finally said they'd do it, but we needed additional pictures. At that point, we turned around and left. Screw it, we'll just get it at the Oman boarder tomorrow morning! They apparently have some old souqs and some gorgeous coastline. I'll be taking lots of pictures!