On the first day of our little break, we 3 teachers from Kurdistan set out to explore the city of Beirut. We started out on the corniche and walked along the edge of the Mediterranean to the downtown core. One of the things that first struck my attention was how beautifully archaeological discoveries had been incorporated into the design of the modern city. The first two pictures below show the remains of a Roman bath which line both sides of a staircase leading to another commercial street, but are surrounded with walkways with trees and benches for people to sit and enjoy the view.
And the photo below, while is of more ruins sort of opposite from the Virgin Megastore. Yes, this was one of the first stops; a chance to buy NON-PIRATED DVDs and newly released novels in English (although there is an even larger selection in French).
Although some denigrate the reconstruction of Beirut as a kind of poor-quality facelift, for us coming from Erbil, it was pretty impressive. Like in Erbil, you could pass by areas with clusters of giraffe-like cranes stretching their necks out in every direction... but unlike Erbil, there was no evidence of abandoned construction sites and buildings in early states of construction did not already look ready to fall as in some parts of Asia.
In the picture above, Dirk has just come to the end of a street lined on both sides with red heated tents sheltering the outdoor tables of the restaurants on either side of the street... mostly Lebanese mezze and classic Italian cuisine...
And we finally come to a square with a church sporting a mosaic of St. George fighting the dragon... behind which sits a mosque.
And the photo below, while is of more ruins sort of opposite from the Virgin Megastore. Yes, this was one of the first stops; a chance to buy NON-PIRATED DVDs and newly released novels in English (although there is an even larger selection in French). 
Although some denigrate the reconstruction of Beirut as a kind of poor-quality facelift, for us coming from Erbil, it was pretty impressive. Like in Erbil, you could pass by areas with clusters of giraffe-like cranes stretching their necks out in every direction... but unlike Erbil, there was no evidence of abandoned construction sites and buildings in early states of construction did not already look ready to fall as in some parts of Asia. 
In the picture above, Dirk has just come to the end of a street lined on both sides with red heated tents sheltering the outdoor tables of the restaurants on either side of the street... mostly Lebanese mezze and classic Italian cuisine... 
And we finally come to a square with a church sporting a mosaic of St. George fighting the dragon... behind which sits a mosque.
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