Day 6- 9/16 - Beirut - Street Life, Lebanon Mountains to East, the Cliffhouse, Visiting Friends

 

We had originally planned to travel to Damascus, Syria, on this day. However, as Keith was not feeling well & was fighting a head cold, we cancelled. Keith slept in & we started out slowly - a leisurely breakfast, a little shopping at the fascinating L’Artisan du liban shop near the AUB campus (sorry we took no photos here) & an easy stroll around the Hamra District of Beirut.  This day was made even more special and wonderful as we were able to spend time with Lebanese friends & family members.

We started the day with a pleasant breakfast at a cafe across the street from the main gate of the University (AUB).

Another view of Rue Bliss outside the AUB gate - here we see the ever popular McDonalds & Dunkin Donuts.

Another photo of contrasts - the new modern gray building along side the older more traditional Lebanese townhouse.

Another assortment of architecture seen on a Beirut street.

A modern Beirut street scene as we continue our walk around the Hamra District of Beirut.

An interesting crepe restaurant.

At this intersection near our hotel, we see these signs, one points to the Versaille Home hotel. The once landmark hotspot Horseshoe club is now closed. 

The popularity of US culture & fashion is made obvious with this store in Beirut.

A delightful, little, all- purpose grocery shop near our hotel. This friendly shopkeeper was as multilingual as he was helpful. It was time to stock up on fluids for Keith's cold.

Always conveniently located & functional were the ATM's. Keith reminisced about using now obsolete traveler's checks 42 years ago. Notice the "English" & "Arabic" numerals on the keypad.

Flowers & fruit are offered in these Beirut shops also located in the Hamra District.  

Our walk & some shopping completed, it was time to meet Nada & Arminée for a drive up into the mountains southeast of Beirut to visit the general area in which Nada used to live.

Our very special treat was lunch at the Al-Sakhra Café (also known as the Cliffhouse) in the village of Chemlan, or Shemlan, in the Aley  District. Here Patrick, Keith & Arminée pose outside this beautiful restaurant with the biggest gahwa (coffee) pot Keith has ever seen.

With a breathtaking view of Beirut below, we enjoy a superb traditional mezze meal. Mezze or meza is often translated as "starters" or appetizers, but can be a full & filling  meal in itself. Be sure to see more photos of this meal on our e-mail page.

This is the view from the restaurant of Beirut through the haze. The Beirut airport can be seen to the left. This strategic high ground made this area sadly important during the years of war & conflict. More photos!

This is the view to the southwest with the Mediterranean Sea in the distance. It was from out there that the USS New Jersey bombarded this area, sometimes missing the "bad guys" & annihilating innocent villages & villagers. Oops... 

Just next to this restaurant is a bombed-out shell of what must have been a beautiful home.  

Here is another dining room in the recently remodeled & expanded Cliffhouse in this area with a most interesting history (including a "spy school")!

Leaving the restaurant, Nada points out that this house is very typical of the older traditional mountain homes. Many homes in her village were hit with the big guns of the New Jersey, including hers.

As we drive though this mountain area we see many new & beautiful buildings. Some of these are called "luxury apartments for sale" buildings & are crowding out or replacing the beautiful old traditional Lebanese buildings or the natural landscape. 

We also see the older buildings which are being rebuilt. or preserved. Some local folks are trying to stop or slow this movement towards modern high-rises. (Check out the community of Shemlan's efforts in this regard.)

Between the new & the old, we see frequent signs of damage left from the fighting that took place here a few years ago.

Attempts were being made to restore this beautiful old building.

Entering a mountain village, we see this colorful & attractive doorway.

A busy intersection in a fairly large mountain town.

This town had a sculpture park with a wide variety of interesting pieces.

As we turn back down the mountain toward the city, Patrick gets this view of the development & landscape to the north of the highway.

Again entering the city, we are greeted with reminders of the conflict that raged here.

We then spent a warm & peaceful evening in the Beirut home of Nada & her family. Here cat lover Patrick makes the acquaintance of the house feline.

Before the evening meal, Patrick gets us all to pose for this picture - far left is Fatimah's brother, Nada's brother Ahmed on floor, close family friend Arminée, Fatimah, Nada & Keith.

After a delicious meal & interesting conversation, Patrick figures out how to use his camera's self timer so that we can all get in this photo (Fatimah's brother left earlier).

SEE DAY 6 E-MAIL/PHOTO SAMPLER FOR MORE ON THIS DAY.

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