马斯喀特——“东西飘落之地”

北京奥运圣火于今日抵达阿曼首都马斯喀特，圣火在马斯喀特的传递将从陈列“苏哈尔号”木船的布斯坦环岛出发，经过希达卜港、阿莱姆王宫、马斯喀特之门景区、马斯喀特海滨大道、穆特拉赫传统市场等马斯喀特重要景点，最后在库鲁姆国家公园举行火炬传递结束仪式，整个路线长度约为二十公里。

马斯喀特港是古代中国和阿拉伯国家贸易的重要港口，是海上“丝绸之路”途经阿拉伯半岛的唯一港口城市。阿曼是北京奥运会火炬传递途径的唯一的阿拉伯国家。

马斯喀特是阿曼首都，地处波斯湾通向印度洋的要冲，三面环山，东南濒阿拉伯海，东北临阿曼湾，依山临水，风景秀丽，占有重要的战略地位。 马斯喀特是中世纪的一座古老的港口城市。在阿拉伯语中意为“东西飘落之地”。

城市介绍

Muscat

Muscat is the capital of and largest city Oman; a small nation located to the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula. Though, not as old as the some other cities in Middle East, it has a character of its own and houses some fantastic attraction within its sphere. Stretching some 50 km in a linear direction from East to West, the city houses different districts.

Muscat is primarily a business centre although the many monuments it houses do give it a touch of age-old charm. A visit to the museums, monuments, and markets are essential to understand the character of the city.

For the adventure seekers there is the added option to indulge in different water sport activities such as jet skiing, fishing charters, dolphin shows, and much more. City has a good nightlife and a visit to the nightclubs and discos of the city can be quite exciting.

Muscat Festival, organised annually^{1 in the months of December and January is one of the greatest attractions of Muscat. Sports, music, dance, exhibitions, stage performances, children s activities, everything is the part of this grand festival.}

Ramadan and Eid ul Fitr are the most important religious festivals and celebrated^{2 with great fanfare3.}