Magnets with Memories

I bought another fridge magnet today. It is a fridge magnet of a camel and a palm tree. It came from the amazing souq in Muscat. Now I haven’t seen any camels in Muscat yet but the palm tree will help to remind me of all the glorious green I am seeing in Muscat, Oman.

The day before I left to come to Kuwait I took out of one of my five suitcases the three bags I had filled with my collection of fridge magnets from around the world. They weighed a lot but now I wish I had brought them with me. They are great reminders of so many interesting travel stories.

The flying nun magnet I got on a whirl wind afternoon to Rome. Jose, a shipboard waiter, and I had 6 hours off. That seemed like just enough time to take a train and tour Rome. We made wishes in the Trevi Fountain and he desperately wanted to mail a postcard from the Vatican to his grandmother. He kept saying, ” I want her to know I am thinking of her. I want her to know I was here. I want her to know I love her.” After a tour of the Coliseum we hoped on a train and made it back to the ship just in time for work. Jose’s Grandmother passed away a month later. He went home for her funeral and never came back to sea or to Rome. His Grandmother knew he loved her.

I’ve realized that I need to start putting dates, names and places on the backs of my fridge magnets. The tall buildings or Dubai skyline magnet that I bought last week will read, “Dubai 2009, 6 ladies, lots of laughter, friendship and red wine. I turned 33 in this fantastic city.” I do hope all that fits on one fridge magnet. I look forward to trying to remember the dates and stories behind the rest of my fridge magnet collection. I also am excited to add new memories and new magnets.

Today we are leaving Muscat and heading for Nizwa, then Sur and hopefully we find Bahla somewhere in between!