In a recent post I created a list of signs that give away the fact that you’ve been in the Middle East for too long.
You may remember a vague mention to getting excited at the opening of a new supermarket in town, so here we go a whole post dedicated to the occasion. A brand new Al Fair has come to this part of town and this is something definitely worth mentioning.
Al Fair is the Gulf version of a grocery store half way between Waitrose and something else: (inflated) Waitrose prices & something else quality; the best you can find in town in terms of variety and availability of pricey western expat favourites; last but not least it has a whole craftily semi-hidden, “behind a narrow alleyway”, strictly for infidels PORK SECTION.
Yes, my eyes were watering at the juicy 20 EUR per gram pork on display, still pink and fresh as it had just been placed on the shelves. I am curious to see how long before it starts turning green because of the poor turnaround.
Any how this is really the event of the month. Having a proper supermarket near home is a big thing. The brand spanking new shop opened this morning and it comes filled with an incredible amount of yellow & green balloons and a free yellow rose at check out.
Now we have food, pork and alcohol all round the corner and a number of establishments are opening in this side of town; who needs MQ any more??
Ale my dear, I know you like teasing us for living in the “piccolo deserto” but I think Muscat is slowly moving this way. ;-P
Another thing: my search has finally ended; I leave you with a photo of the car of my dreams.
5 comments:
Congratulations on your second neighborhood supermarket! Mabrook to the micro-desert :-)
A Shatti girl.
I loved Al Fair when I lived in Oman. Actually, when I first got there it was pretty much the only supermarket chain in town. There was no Carrefour, Sultan Centre, City Centre/Plaza etc. I know they can be a tad expensive, but they provided the oh so essential comfort foods from home.
Grazie AZ. :)
Desertman, Despite all the additions Al Fair still rocks on the front of comfort food top provider. So far it sounds like things haven't changed that much after all, although I hear that Waitrose itself is expected to land in Muscat soon. Now that would be something.
the car would be great with Orange flames - the grey looks a bit like mine on a dirty day
Ros, it sounds like Al Fair are the same today as they were back in 1993. Back then, there was pretty much nothing else other than Muttrah Cold Stores (now Al Fair) and the local market. Then again, back in those days:
- there was no road across the beach at Qurm
- the airport was out in the middle of nowhere. Azaiba and Ghubrah basically didn't exist
- there was only a single lane road to Nizwa, which took about 3 hours to navigate on a good day
- you needed a 4WD to get further south than Al Amerat, never mind getting to Tiwi or Sur!
Ah...the good old days!
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