More tourism

Downtown Beirut ("Is that a Rolex clock?" asked one of our friends in surprise.) 

Now that I have to play the tourist for some time, I obviously hang around places where other tourists go as well. I don’t think I’ve ever seen that many foreigners in town. Not just the regular tourists, the Arabs from the Gulf countries, but western tourists! People with shorts and shabby sneakers, white legs, faded T-shirts and fanny packs. Lots of Americans too, young and old, and even a couple of back-packers. Yesterday on Hamra traffic was backing up because a tourist bus was unloading about 60 ‘elderly’ English speaking passengers.

Between lunch and dinner time; the waiters are waiting for customers.

It’s the first time in almost 20 years now, that I see that many foreigners in town. We did get a lot of positive publicity lately in the foreign press (The Guardian, New York Times, Times, New York Times Magazine ); it seems it has made its mark.

“Look, there you have your nuns,” says my Mom.

No Mom, they’re not nuns, they’re khalijis (visitors from the Gulf)

 Now let’s keep our fingers crossed, because you know we are like that Sisyphus guy over here.

‘As a punishment from the gods for his trickery, Sisyphus was made to roll a huge rock up a steep hill, but before he could reach the top of the hill, the rock would always roll back down again, forcing him to begin again.’ (source)

Yep, that’s us.

I know, it’s a bit of a cliché; Lebanon, the country of 16 religions. Or is it 17? But still, makes a cute picture.

Downtown was very pleasant, by the way. I should play the tourist more often.