Le Royal Beirut

... Maybe that is what "renovation" means over here. You don't have to redo, just reopen. Now here's an interesting tidbit I didn't know at all until today...The hotel was the headquarters for the Syrian intelligence in Lebanon until they withdrew in 2005. Some people checked in but never checked out. Supposedly people were tortured here as well. Kinda eery actually to have slept somewhere with that kind of history. Oh well, it was dirt cheap and the ...

... creation of Beirut's old city. It's a compound of high-luxury, with sleek new hotels, tons of banks, Versace megastores and Ferrari showroowms... and TGI Friday's. Seriously, you'd think you were in Dubai walking these streets. But the place was largely deserted and it felt artificial and uninspired. Aside from the gorgeous Hariri Mosque, beside which the former Prime Minister is burried, there are no cultural institutions such as a museum or opera, or entertainment venues ...

Lebanon is quickly beoming one of my favourite countries. A country full of contradictions, Beirut is FULL of money, while mothers beg in Tyre. In the sapn of a five minute walk I passed about 20 buildings - both commercail and residential that had been showered with bullets, and three of these noticeably had been bombed. At the same time, however, there are some beautiful new buildings, downtown is sparkly and new, and there are a ridiculous number of fancy beyond fancy cars ...

... who was assassinated just a few years ago) and his bodyguards who alse perished. At night, I went out with Charles, Kimo, Sarmed and Kevin. I liked hanging out with these guys. We just went to Torino Express again and had a few beers. They asked me what I had planned for my last day in Beirut tomorrow. I said I was just going to the beach to relax. I was really happy to hear that they all wanted to come. It will definitely make tomorrow more fun. Dino Vagabond

Man I'm behind. And pardon me that I cannot puncuate well, the keyboard I am using is all F-ed up. Also, I cannot mention that country that cannot be mentioned, or else the computer will immediately shut off. Nor can I mention that country that I just came from that begins with an L. I'll be writing it as L ebanon, or I srael. L ebanon is one of the most fascinating places that I've ever visited- it is the ultimate city of contrast -- think the Sunset ...

... at the back so I can speed! It reminds me of mychildhood, just going carelessly. Aftyer having a pitstop at Sheheem we continued riding uphill downhill and straight. We passed by little towns, children shouting us 'how are you' and people asking where we were from. When I answered Turkiya, they seemed happy and responded ahlan wa sahlan. I wish i had time and allowence to stop and chat. a bikestore, a little local one, on the road and get mirrors and horn ...

... of the Mediterranean, its waters lapping softly along the miles of shoreline; and above, a full sun threw down warm colour from a cloudless sky and Beirut basked graciously in it. It was, however, the man-made elements that made the drive fascinating. Gone were the ubiquitous banners and billboards of Syrian President al-Assad, replaced instead by similarly ubiquitous billboards of Rafiq Hariri (former Lebanese Prime Minister) and fellow high-profile anti-Syrian ...

... and Saturday being the big nights, I was a day too early! So having been over-welmed by the European-eque, afluent and very chic city of Beirut, I'm spending a day in the countries Shiite heart lands. One could compaire going from Monacco to Islamabad prehapps? I'm not kidding guys, although "safe" for tourists now this is HEZBOLLAH country!!!!! My guide book talks about that it's most likly this is where the suicide bombers which hit the ...

... be solved by us paying inflated cab fares; 2 hours of wailing bagpipe and cymbal Arabic rock music blaring from the neighbouring room's television; 2 days of trudging the treacherous pavements through rain storms under biblical thunder and lightning: yes, we're back on the road again!

I finally arrived in Beirut, only slightly behind schedule, at around 3:30am. I was warmly welcomed by a coworker, escorted out to our vehicle which was parked outside, and while putting my bags in the back of the large SUV I noticed a couple camoflage flack-jackets, placed there "just in case". Bienvenue a Beyrouth.