Each minute would feel drawn out, but nothing compared to the final countdown: 10, 9, 8, 7, 6 … Then finally, flames and roars, and the bloody thing would take off from the oasis with everything vibrating.
Farther east from Turner River Road is a novel opportunity for folks who prefer to explore on foot: ranger-led swamp hikes that set off from the Oasis Visitor Center in Big Cypress.
At daybreak, we passed the small islands off Jizan, and we could see in the distance the hazy presence of the oasis town of Abha, sunlight glinting off a piece of glass or a white wall.
The diameter of the Oasis structure is still debated.
Fresh off a performance at the Closing Ceremony of the 2012 London Olympics, Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne, Niall Horan and Louis Tomlinson have released a new video of their cover of the Oasis mega-hit, "Wonderwall".
"We're an off-the-radar oasis," said Deirdre Major, a spokeswoman for the Castagna Realty Company, although the Americana hasn't quite slipped the attention of Prada, Escada, Burberry, Ralph Lauren, Donna Karan and Max Mara, which all maintain stores there, or of Louis Vuitton, whose Americana outpost averages annual sales "in the millions of dollars," a spokesman said.
It's well worth the scenic drive upstate for a weekend at this off-the-beaten-path oasis of contemporary performance (not to mention delectable meals and good conversation at the festival's signature Art-B-Qs).
I spent Tuesday -- the convention's kick-off day -- at the Oasis.
After the Arab army encamped at Baykand, the Turgesh and Soghdians cut off the water supply from the oasis.
Our car was forced off the road just outside the oasis by 16 Tuareg armed with Kalashnikovs.
