Crowne Plaza Beirut

... which was in an "old building" (see next entry for more details) and after 30 min or so the receptionist got all nervous because the hallway was full of smoke and it smelled like something burned. The receptionist woke up every person in the hotel and finally insisted that the smell and smoke came from outside although there were not openings to the outside (??).<br><br>We thought we would never gonna sleep but finally did so at around midnight...

... of Hezbollah. I paused for a moment to wonder how many children sported the latest Hezbollah sticker on their X-Men lunchboxes before continuing on my search for a falafel stand.<br><br><br>We will see a true test of Hezbollah&#8217;s popularity on June 7th, the day of the Lebanese elections. The race is so close even the experts dare not predict a winner. In other words, there is a significant chance Hezbollah will win the elections a few weeks from now. Some might cite this ...

... drive from the border to Beirut was really beautiful in the surrounding hills and over looking snow capped mountains. When I got to Beirut after about 4 hours on the bus I got to the hostel but it was full so I went to the other hostel which was also full but the owner offered me the couch for $10 instead of the dorm price for $12 so tonight I am sleeping on the reception couch! After checking in I headed out for some dinner. Lebanon is not cheap ...

Today I went to the beach in Byblos - an hour bus ride from Beirut. Kimo, Charles and Kevin joined me which was great. I enjoyed wearing shorts again. Since I left Ankara about a month ago, I have only worn shorts twice. Each time was in Beirut. I really had a good time with the guys. They are such a fun and interesting bunch. Everyone has a unique personality yet we all get along really well. It is always great when you come across a group like this. All we ...

... then hung up the phone. He waved at me to get my backpack from the luggage rack and said "See outside". I ran and snared my backpack from the carousel and walked up to the customs area, where they were baggage screening. I got another text from Rawda saying the army guy would help me get to a certain point and Rawda and her family would meet me there to pick me up. There was another guy doing passport checks, but I seemed to slip through with a couple that had just come in ...

... or cards. Aaaahh, yes, I do remember all the days spent playing and playing some more. The neighbors come over to welcome us and unfortunately a few speak fluent English. I try my best to keep up with the translation, but sometimes it evades me and I assume that Ian understood and then look at him to answer something and he just stares at me blankly, then smiles politely and . Oh, sorry... Urgh....heehee....ok, this is what they said.

... ago. Anyway, Imad and Joseph invited me to the 'Club Cristal'. According to Imad, it's usually very hard to get in but he knew someone at the door. As it turned out, Imad knew just about everyone there. We were taken up to the VIP area where you had a full view of the entire club from a raised seating area. So there I was, wearing a black t-shirt - one of a 3-pack from Wal-mart I think - and a pair of grotty well-traveled pants, and staring down out all the beautiful and ...

... Byblos we made two day trips out from Beirut. The first was to Jeita Grotto (of which more later) via Nahr Al-Kalb. This is a gorge where successive armies have been forced to cross the Lycus River in perilously exposed single file. Those that made it across have carved stelae in the canyon walls in thanks. Nebuchadnezzar II, the Assyrians, Ramses II some time between 1292 and 1225 BC, Marcus Aurelius, the Desert Mountain Corps including New Zealand and Australian ...

... weather, as all the countrys on the Mediteranian experience this. I am told repeatedly (when I complain about the heat and humidity) it will be pleasant and then gradualy cold here in about 15 days. I am already starting to notice this cool down. My new sister in-law Nadine and her sister Sarah convinced me to take some Oriental aka belly dancing lessons with them. They are far different from what I expected. They are high energy, and very ...