tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-117918642024-03-18T11:37:36.806+01:00.Sietskehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12063618922778363385noreply@blogger.comBlogger1542125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11791864.post-32045399032504630902018-04-25T18:48:00.001+01:002018-04-25T18:48:28.382+01:00On the Corniche<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My dad is like Johnny Walker; 102 years old and still
going. He’s in Beirut, and while I’m at work, he strolls through town with his
walker. Not an easy task, he says, because there are the holes in the pavement,
the cars are parked on the sidewalks, there’s lamp posts, electricity poles,
traffic signs and what-not blocking his path and a curb every 10 meters, so
he’s got to lift that walker up and down, up and down and up and down. And I
live on a hill. But he keeps on walking.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Just like Johnny Walker He's a 102 years old</i></td></tr>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Last Saturday we decided to go for a stroll along the
Corniche. From the Bain Militaire (Or Hamam el Askareh) to McDonalds, and back
again, exactly 5 kilometers, is a nice smooth walk. On one side the jagged
edges of the city’s high-rise, on the other side the flat and calming waters of
the Mediterranean Sea; the contrast couldn’t be starker. I basically live <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">á</span>nd
work on the Corniche, but it is odd, I rarely walk there. Yet the Corniche is
fantastic entertainment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a
cross-section of Lebanese society in a way; as you stroll along this long and
narrow stretch of beach boulevard, you encounter the contrasts, the cultural
quirks, and the gentle and human side of this society.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The really early ‘walkers’ start already at 4 AM, right
after the morning prayer, because that is when Beirut is at its best: cool,
empty and quiet. We’re a little lazier so we did an afternoon walk. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The first thing we encountered was a
half-naked man.</span></div>
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<i style="font-weight: normal;">It's not that warm, according to the man on the left near the railing</i></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Yes, the bare-breasted/bear chested men are a typical
Corniche phenomenon, and they come out as soon as the sun shines, like
crocuses. I am rather amused by these men who are so openly working on their
tan line, while totally comfortable with bodies that are often less than
perfect. They slather themselves in baby oil from top to toe, roll up their
running shorts all the way into their crotch, making them look like puffy
speedos, and march up and down, from the Bain Militaire to the McDonalds and
back again.</span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>This young skinny kid is learning the art of ‘marching for a tan’</i></span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">It surprises me that no one is offended by this open
display of flesh, because although we’re on the sea side, we’re not at the
beach, and this is a society where it is often all about covering up. The Dutch
seems to have the reputation that everything goes, but Holland is actually a
society where quite a few things are deemed ‘improper’. Where the Lebanese
frown upon pre-marital sex and immodesty, the Dutch condemn the flaunting of
fortune, the boasting of accomplishments and open vanity.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">If you get a nose job in Holland, you disappear from the
face of the Earth until the scars are gone, and then, if anyone notices, you claim
you needed a sinus correction for medical reasons. Here, the surgical nose
plasters are so common that you sometimes wonder if they actually had an
operation, or just pretend to look cool. And so these semi naked men, so
concerned with their tan, always mesmerize me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The next thing you see are the bikers. There is quite a
bit of recreational biking in town these days, but traffic is mortally
dangerous for two-wheelers, as no one uses signal lights, drivers and
passengers alike open car doors without checking if someone is passing by, or
make sudden right turns. The Corniche is the only ‘safe’ place in my part of
town.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small; text-align: justify;"><i>Comparing mode of transportation; bike versus walker (actually, we ran into a family member </i><i>J</i></span><i style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> )</span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Coming from a culture where children bike by the time
they are 3 of 4 years old, it is cute to see grown ups - confident as anything
-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>on tricycles, on bikes that are 5
sizes too small or in full athletic gear with helmets while going at 5 km an
hour. But it is all good. They are all having a good time, riding along the
Mediterranean. The ‘Beirut By Bike’ rental bikes are all over the place. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwgodl20-dj8tPXZ5LG9okvuJCea_LilmzIbnIc50IwjjeuQxYqSIB_a4UQOy3VBufwYie71hq5KI3s9RO4to1N1zomPrnzTZXraKkAysTph5FGvE7bFm2iwWaxmiemlFdKncHDA/s1600/IMG_8392.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwgodl20-dj8tPXZ5LG9okvuJCea_LilmzIbnIc50IwjjeuQxYqSIB_a4UQOy3VBufwYie71hq5KI3s9RO4to1N1zomPrnzTZXraKkAysTph5FGvE7bFm2iwWaxmiemlFdKncHDA/s640/IMG_8392.JPG" width="640" /></a><i>A <span style="font-size: x-small;">very manly man, muscles and a tattoo, quite comfortable that he’s riding a yellow girl bike. That, or he does not know it is a girl bike</span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And since everyone is out on the Corniche, you are bound
to run into people you know. Sometimes you just slap a high five as you cross
one another, walking in opposite directions. Sometimes it merits a stop, and as
you talk, you block the middle of the boulevard and now everyone has to
navigate around you. Doesn’t matter, nobody gets annoyed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">There’s lots to see, and not just on the boulevard. Part
of the life takes place ‘under it’. There’s the AUB beach, which - </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">although the official beach for the American university
- sports an unusual amount of men that do not seem to be students, unless they
are taking their time with the course work. These are also engaged in some
serious sun tanning, lively conversation or very intensive paddle ball
competitions. Paddle ball is a sport I did not know even existed, until I came
to Lebanon. It’s like tennis, at least the ball gets smashed as hard as in
tennis, but the rackets are little wooden paddles.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Then there are the dog owners. Not a pet society by
tradition, and so if you have a dog, you got to walk it here. The poor huskies
and woolly German shepherds, on super short leashes, and in the blazing heat, walk
next to their owners as everyone gives them wide berth. There is a fear for
dogs among many. Big dogs that is, because the little ones get patted and
picked up by everyone. One of my little dogs is a nasty one, a nipper, and I’ve
stopped walking that one in public, because every time someone wanted to pet
him, I envisioned scenarios where I had to drive to poor guy to the hospital
with an index<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>finger dangling by a threat<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg95iJ0_Y2N-wP_xByY89O59gl8dxAfEzEI1mKkoq89FxFJBz5TbghHgVvdXdRRh3sRkIPhaqC6l8gp-JWvFinEcW4RLiCeI5l_nZMYZEppS6N4qCamEpn3Y6j6oCNl59Zb7_wFsg/s1600/IMG_8405.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1144" data-original-width="1600" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg95iJ0_Y2N-wP_xByY89O59gl8dxAfEzEI1mKkoq89FxFJBz5TbghHgVvdXdRRh3sRkIPhaqC6l8gp-JWvFinEcW4RLiCeI5l_nZMYZEppS6N4qCamEpn3Y6j6oCNl59Zb7_wFsg/s640/IMG_8405.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">While strolling, you notice the sharp contrasts in dress,
from the revealing to the covered from head to toe, but regardless the garb,
they all there to exercise, or stroll to see the sea, or escape the house. You
have the ‘sweater’s, those that walk in tight plasticized suits, in the hope, I
assume, to lose the excess weight through profuse sweating. Granted, you do
lose quite a bit of weight that way, but it’s never a long lasting affair. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC5K7310mIf2qQLeJx2pZuubXv5KzllqEbXPGvkGp-S-9VMnzv0JQEb6YmjUOJ-f2w0AJxDkNq9QnMaIxdUnn9cTPEhZ2dBHIj9i9NZAGZxghqImGRdhBXbqeZiYOA_kWoSr9_FQ/s1600/IMG_8401.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1410" data-original-width="1600" height="564" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC5K7310mIf2qQLeJx2pZuubXv5KzllqEbXPGvkGp-S-9VMnzv0JQEb6YmjUOJ-f2w0AJxDkNq9QnMaIxdUnn9cTPEhZ2dBHIj9i9NZAGZxghqImGRdhBXbqeZiYOA_kWoSr9_FQ/s640/IMG_8401.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
Since the influx of Syrians into the country, you obviously see them strolling
on the Corniche as well. They are – in general – dressed a little more
conservative than the Lebanese, and love taking pictures of each other in front
of the sea. Or with the dog. Or next to a bike. In front of the rose peddlers,
or the balloon salesman. They just love taking pictures.</div>
<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja7wUm9Uydd0Ijme7gA2-f-e5FOKf9Am0M6L0pHrMbs5htycykBwbdbiZEKk_NAuKZBCWEyHopWSsgW3h7YGXcwDMRYHtp6eV0lSi16qHY3s1nRTr35sP6ZvHuc3hkKvkeJXWz1w/s1600/IMG_8410.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1020" data-original-width="1600" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja7wUm9Uydd0Ijme7gA2-f-e5FOKf9Am0M6L0pHrMbs5htycykBwbdbiZEKk_NAuKZBCWEyHopWSsgW3h7YGXcwDMRYHtp6eV0lSi16qHY3s1nRTr35sP6ZvHuc3hkKvkeJXWz1w/s640/IMG_8410.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And while some flaunt full skin, others prefer to walk
around as if they are about to join a sailing competition. It’s their
understanding that it isn’t summer until summer starts on June 21. And so until
that time, they wear something warm. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq7ceOiv1cYL1bkUB9WQgXu9ZeX7rIqMjTx5MtoDZCVpsIRc4YWhkgXyMkYXEJ5QS9-FdDZp1mRl_ung86k_ubG5aa_d5QxacqiyYzePzvGwBtNfVSUEoagqrkUDcaYG3UqZsd6Q/s1600/IMG_8425.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="792" data-original-width="1600" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq7ceOiv1cYL1bkUB9WQgXu9ZeX7rIqMjTx5MtoDZCVpsIRc4YWhkgXyMkYXEJ5QS9-FdDZp1mRl_ung86k_ubG5aa_d5QxacqiyYzePzvGwBtNfVSUEoagqrkUDcaYG3UqZsd6Q/s640/IMG_8425.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">You see tourist from both sides of the realm, the
Westerners, white as milk, not used to sun so early in the season, and the
Arabs, some fully clad in chador, and sometimes with face coverings as well.
The war in Syria has pulled in quite few young westerners, all working for
NGO’s that deal with Syrian refugees. I always have to smile when I see them.
Dressing up in Europe and the US is obviously a different affair than dressing
up in Lebanon. When people here just go out for ‘a drink’, they’re often dressed
better and more formal than how most westerners would show up at the wedding of
a friend. What is most striking are the shoes. And I know this from myself; in
Holland you wear shoes until they fall apart. And nobody is more notorious for
not polishing their shoes ever than the Dutch. Not here. There are shoe shine
boys all over town, so there is obviously a market. And shoes that look
slightly worn, or scratched, or a little old, get discarded. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2dNAddZc0lNr9LOTF2zNIskrhpsc5qemyR_MuMvhUpmea5tMiUUutydK18D5QJax1d7iy_TXfzBWNk3iwitrzJtDr7mXW1kEvQArDdZmfDJdKdrHaGPy3dj4xbw2750q11eIsHA/s1600/IMG_8428.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="1600" height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2dNAddZc0lNr9LOTF2zNIskrhpsc5qemyR_MuMvhUpmea5tMiUUutydK18D5QJax1d7iy_TXfzBWNk3iwitrzJtDr7mXW1kEvQArDdZmfDJdKdrHaGPy3dj4xbw2750q11eIsHA/s640/IMG_8428.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A father dragging his toddler; both were very happy doing what they were doing</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This eye for details is lost on the westerners, especially the young ones. They
often wear clothes that we as Lebanese slightly frown upon; a T-shirt with a
frayed neck line, a pair of shorts that have been washed so often that you
cannot determine the color anymore, un-ironed shirts, </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">jackets with stains or shapeless dresses. And
of course the shoes.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">But in this
xenophile society, anything </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">coming from
abroad is forgiven for their ignorant approach to style. Well, depending from
what part of the world they come.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWZTmCb1Rq4Yc19jhSOsnbpC22qew0ZqyHypTdZM3FRvf4zhh6Y1JIyKz-rX1OEEGISq-tcczj5LsF2C-hLRli_OExUB3SzimQoKY43Aacs0nOQinrhI3R14zvoXOfYVC4B-9shg/s1600/IMG_8399.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="956" data-original-width="1600" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWZTmCb1Rq4Yc19jhSOsnbpC22qew0ZqyHypTdZM3FRvf4zhh6Y1JIyKz-rX1OEEGISq-tcczj5LsF2C-hLRli_OExUB3SzimQoKY43Aacs0nOQinrhI3R14zvoXOfYVC4B-9shg/s640/IMG_8399.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Here is an elderly gentleman, walking, with what I assume
to be his housekeeper, but I may be totally wrong, conditioned as I am by the
expectations of society, which assumes that if you’re colored, you must be a
maid. It is just that mixed racial marriages are – unfortunately – quite
unusual in Lebanon. The Lebanese are not THAT xenophile. I once had a
housekeeper from the Philippines, who married a Lebanese man, and she
complained that every time she’d show up with him at his friends’ house, they’d
assume she’d be doing all the cleaning and the dishes, seeing that she was a
maid. It drove her wild. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
I find it very endearing though, this lady and gentleman, walking so patiently
side by side, assisting one another in life.</div>
<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie6fbHFxDkKwa-9sKKU09LrNyeiJJdeYhr8cfpIiwI58CrAf0nbEErQL6W2ywh_Foc5u9DQP7fJ0ItLPavCD44WoESqcvv6i_x3FcvDoX4jJmuz8a7hAq4eHemU-q1AQAgQP2Vuw/s1600/IMG_8396.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie6fbHFxDkKwa-9sKKU09LrNyeiJJdeYhr8cfpIiwI58CrAf0nbEErQL6W2ywh_Foc5u9DQP7fJ0ItLPavCD44WoESqcvv6i_x3FcvDoX4jJmuz8a7hAq4eHemU-q1AQAgQP2Vuw/s640/IMG_8396.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A bit further ahead are the fishermen. Most of them are
hobby fishers; they go after the little fish with the spiny dorsal fish.
There’s a reason of course why all these fish gather in this specific place;
the city’s waste water exits here into the Mediterranean. The water is warm and
obviously rife with all kinds of ‘edible’ items, and although it’s not exactly
the sewer, it is still not quite the fish I’d like to eat. But these guys sit
here all day, while the people look and see what they are doing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCvbjHeJOztMZKzSW7cYCLd53QSufxZ4M8dgPE4cTHkRTndY0tgyxGsnmcf_s5FBya3X2UPAEa-APa4S0tm1ROUsYZi_ZZMcNMR6adsLuarLEwrKFLdM8PDixdbW0ldiSz91Acag/s1600/IMG_8395.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCvbjHeJOztMZKzSW7cYCLd53QSufxZ4M8dgPE4cTHkRTndY0tgyxGsnmcf_s5FBya3X2UPAEa-APa4S0tm1ROUsYZi_ZZMcNMR6adsLuarLEwrKFLdM8PDixdbW0ldiSz91Acag/s640/IMG_8395.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhodnET0Fc3A49bdx4HMsyufuEak6TifwtwPXa9e2L5rehWDAYKJC_olRwDybtEyP6wECTHMT3FnhO8RvIHsgpfe-GPWG_lhpD3XAr_augAs1lz41YUs13IyFPWdCrByYl4qADCgg/s1600/IMG_8417.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1201" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhodnET0Fc3A49bdx4HMsyufuEak6TifwtwPXa9e2L5rehWDAYKJC_olRwDybtEyP6wECTHMT3FnhO8RvIHsgpfe-GPWG_lhpD3XAr_augAs1lz41YUs13IyFPWdCrByYl4qADCgg/s640/IMG_8417.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8lfhAbU7BS6IorKtaqJIJuUvQYV1COuRphHWG3h4NFsNoulTPezhxxzRMSqFvDofILS42Pi_RoahbE4S9MHN1j8bMCRdPQWlB_SBtOqm95BzCW2al8wUvnEhFPbBzkW9MwaBB1g/s1600/IMG_8419.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="925" data-original-width="1600" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8lfhAbU7BS6IorKtaqJIJuUvQYV1COuRphHWG3h4NFsNoulTPezhxxzRMSqFvDofILS42Pi_RoahbE4S9MHN1j8bMCRdPQWlB_SBtOqm95BzCW2al8wUvnEhFPbBzkW9MwaBB1g/s640/IMG_8419.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And while you walk, you see the same people several times,
because it is only 2,500 meters, and so everyone walks up and down. Well, there’s
much more to see. The daddies with newborn babies, swathed in blankets, as they
proudly parade their child along, showing it off. The skaters, the argileh
smokers, the men in groups of three (somehow a magic number), the couples - oddly
out of shape - in matching <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Adidas
straining suits and shoes, the girls eye balling the guys sitting on the
railing and the guys eye-balling the girls walking by. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkhhlzNq3todxjJpNerve7moXQS6Jr0no5OKMswxHObHXRf-W4ywWgnVbbLUuST9QTHEAgeFBmvGf3-LSfq8JU-cjjiRj9E2SYf5gNDXS4PDKggqlrMZ_pKQ_ofEj8OO6axtP8BQ/s1600/IMG_8426.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1099" data-original-width="1600" height="438" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkhhlzNq3todxjJpNerve7moXQS6Jr0no5OKMswxHObHXRf-W4ywWgnVbbLUuST9QTHEAgeFBmvGf3-LSfq8JU-cjjiRj9E2SYf5gNDXS4PDKggqlrMZ_pKQ_ofEj8OO6axtP8BQ/s640/IMG_8426.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWejbw7TMXQu9gPZ5ocbwCA_vtU6GOBF5AGZNXI3JkWBuMtpXjOVWssU3w6aIklzrB7uolmyWHi5C0_duCJnaMSlWgy8DzhX2QhZzMGrmvWuDA1RACEgWRY790B6D3VJv95P8MhA/s1600/IMG_8427.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1277" data-original-width="1600" height="510" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWejbw7TMXQu9gPZ5ocbwCA_vtU6GOBF5AGZNXI3JkWBuMtpXjOVWssU3w6aIklzrB7uolmyWHi5C0_duCJnaMSlWgy8DzhX2QhZzMGrmvWuDA1RACEgWRY790B6D3VJv95P8MhA/s640/IMG_8427.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Always in sets of three (the magic number)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjPJKqVuQyVe8j3WOvECQACKVehKwcQk-C5EecvtJ9kak_TBzVyf4kr8C6Xf1YuFYlOoaR4GaynQ7WNnKHNT2qkvtbFe75UzGu7b7kPpyPse5SSMlzlYjoONfcxvUD4Mj9F5TkGg/s1600/IMG_8431.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1157" data-original-width="1600" height="462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjPJKqVuQyVe8j3WOvECQACKVehKwcQk-C5EecvtJ9kak_TBzVyf4kr8C6Xf1YuFYlOoaR4GaynQ7WNnKHNT2qkvtbFe75UzGu7b7kPpyPse5SSMlzlYjoONfcxvUD4Mj9F5TkGg/s640/IMG_8431.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Even the police bikes here</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And so if you’re not </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">busy, and need some diversion, go
for a stroll on the Corniche. If you like it busy, go for Saturday and Sunday
late afternoons.</span></div>
Sietskehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12063618922778363385noreply@blogger.com35tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11791864.post-23973250426771867242018-03-25T12:33:00.002+01:002018-03-25T12:34:02.637+01:00Nahr Ibrahim<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihEGiU4v_v-Dtfd0n6zoA2F48A8QSOjzeGVCJh833MB8YsvOHpiP9x8FuD_VzPCjVqR7VwsmmIdJP5ufrOHqUWgJ3G3yFhhVIBDtMKL0b5JCPUx-42Z8P7FEG4R-R6NSA6GmA81g/s1600/IMG_6903.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1011" data-original-width="1600" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihEGiU4v_v-Dtfd0n6zoA2F48A8QSOjzeGVCJh833MB8YsvOHpiP9x8FuD_VzPCjVqR7VwsmmIdJP5ufrOHqUWgJ3G3yFhhVIBDtMKL0b5JCPUx-42Z8P7FEG4R-R6NSA6GmA81g/s640/IMG_6903.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; text-align: justify;">It used to be one of my favorite
spots on the Ibrahim River; the part under Yachouch and right behind the little
hydro dam.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; text-align: justify;">There is no traffic, no
houses, and very little garbage. They’ve made it a little harder to get to the
river; a sturdy wall blocks us now, and they’ve strung barbed wire over the
fence. I assume it was done by the people of the hydro plant. But some
thoughtful hikers have hung some ropes in which you can put your foot, and with
some effort you can climb over the fence. Better not lose your balance though,
because the rebar will skewer you like shish-taouk. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaA6nadAGmBhWcDp4vrzk3AK98py2kRdCovX2r5V2xP9IqLVorx5qGhf26FCQDRYmyqOanPtUrc5G4vXeXb_q5E9pTWq8GCiFA7PzwviCrsnGj09ex94dlVP_5qEWiwDTuhiQn7A/s1600/IMG_6688.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaA6nadAGmBhWcDp4vrzk3AK98py2kRdCovX2r5V2xP9IqLVorx5qGhf26FCQDRYmyqOanPtUrc5G4vXeXb_q5E9pTWq8GCiFA7PzwviCrsnGj09ex94dlVP_5qEWiwDTuhiQn7A/s640/IMG_6688.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Now that it is harder to get there, it is slightly cleaner, always a good side
effect. The only garbage is the plastic bags stuck in the trees, like Buddhist prayer
flags, from when the water ran much higher.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The river is still flowing strong, but the snow has pretty much all
melted, and the water is quite cold.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="color: #333333;"></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdTGOd9sD6xLUG8Z0BKQCh4wc-TY7AWMogHhj7ZZHIPCEY_WFhoNtWjkuY2iXgKGrITmb4N7leCc5fDFVa6dPS9Nfh6d7Xi7YXn3iY4jZ3Xm12DljJsCb02NpWuRHZH4DGSV4oIw/s1600/IMG_6745.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="828" data-original-width="1600" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdTGOd9sD6xLUG8Z0BKQCh4wc-TY7AWMogHhj7ZZHIPCEY_WFhoNtWjkuY2iXgKGrITmb4N7leCc5fDFVa6dPS9Nfh6d7Xi7YXn3iY4jZ3Xm12DljJsCb02NpWuRHZH4DGSV4oIw/s640/IMG_6745.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<span style="color: #333333;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">They’re in the process of damming up
this river somewhere upstream, near Janneh, not for generating electricity
purposes but for conserving water. But ti seems that studies show the rock
surrounding the project is porous, and so you end up losing quite a bit anyway.
Fixing the existing water infra structure would probably be cheaper and more
efficient, if you ask me. But fr the meantime, it is still a quiet and secluded
river at this spot.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></div>
</span>
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<br />Sietskehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12063618922778363385noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11791864.post-65174952656585343622018-03-12T18:21:00.000+01:002018-03-12T18:21:02.284+01:00I'd Rather Live Happy Than Well<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-hTJSaEzZdryw0rTisq8jXZlx6kiT4d9GWdomb1-f222QkrZzM6iRuRWa8zZUgLcek1E1rNjogkS2Kd_KV93xZxzHrZKpafbF4YFhIpV2lSacZbzmxXrTXn6T_7hC9vJDuDQ7qw/s1600/IMG_4567-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="760" data-original-width="1600" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-hTJSaEzZdryw0rTisq8jXZlx6kiT4d9GWdomb1-f222QkrZzM6iRuRWa8zZUgLcek1E1rNjogkS2Kd_KV93xZxzHrZKpafbF4YFhIpV2lSacZbzmxXrTXn6T_7hC9vJDuDQ7qw/s640/IMG_4567-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When you readers wonder if you are still alive, then I
guess it is time I post something. It is mind boggling to me how I used to churn
out almost a post a day, and I had small children then who needed care and
entertainment. I used to go on picnics far into the country! These days I do
not get beyond a range of some 50 kilometers of Beirut, and my kids entertain
me. So how did I get to be so busy? I changed jobs, and although it is a more
demanding job, that can’t be it because I used to juggle two jobs side by side
for many years. Instagram takes some of my time, but not that much. Guess I am
getting old.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioHcvuA_P7nU-ahtt6Ij8IfdJFwgUXeA2CABs0AdEjiFZVnqK8fk84gywcK5OhCNhnStNhaFdy21jlOJg0JeTCt7x7CXImsIf1MIU32AK-VaxJPpqEu28U35ceCLimzPcbgmqzNw/s1600/IMG_6157.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioHcvuA_P7nU-ahtt6Ij8IfdJFwgUXeA2CABs0AdEjiFZVnqK8fk84gywcK5OhCNhnStNhaFdy21jlOJg0JeTCt7x7CXImsIf1MIU32AK-VaxJPpqEu28U35ceCLimzPcbgmqzNw/s640/IMG_6157.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You've got the mountains</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So time to post something. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Beirut is as chaotic as ever. Elections are coming up,
which is an insult to just about everyone in town, as nothing is really being
elected but rather the pie is being divided amongst the ones in power, the
grand majority of whom are relics from the civil war, war lords,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>or those related or connected to war lords,
or who are otherwise fed by them. I have given up hope in that department. We
will forever be a Banana Republic.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ev3ZmFpv5wQoqr4t4nzF0BYfKuFN0eL8E2Tta4oaPGVG6Fe0fnKnTk3e2WzjWSIgM3kfGO7INmJ6Jg2I7GPCMdHN6-kNyWzuLUVDmSnWpcVB4i2NuXp1LgSY6jS90k6WiGqfRQ/s1600/IMG_5638.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="809" data-original-width="1600" height="322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ev3ZmFpv5wQoqr4t4nzF0BYfKuFN0eL8E2Tta4oaPGVG6Fe0fnKnTk3e2WzjWSIgM3kfGO7INmJ6Jg2I7GPCMdHN6-kNyWzuLUVDmSnWpcVB4i2NuXp1LgSY6jS90k6WiGqfRQ/s640/IMG_5638.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">and the sea</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And yes, there are the power cuts, the double bills for
all amenities, the traffic jams, the slow internet, the pollution and the
ridiculous cost of education, but a Banana Republic has its advantages too. The
lack of rules and regulations is rather liberating, and this may sound strange
to those who crave it, but go live in Holland for 5 years, and you get what I
mean. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A friend of ours mentioned the other day that he’d rather
live ‘happy’ here, than ‘well’ outside. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I have thought about that statement quite a bit this last month. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And although that may make no sense to those
who are struggling to make ends meet in this place, but if you can afford to pay
your bills, than Beirut is the place to be.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7faQEQMjAyhB2ISieLRhCBZgj9f7dnE9_ijTbeuQiCql1e4u2j3dXlWUVDW12ZUpppxv9M8HUcsA-U2DMFKbDtPpmovHcuUyJg8BkLpV2WkjjlgrqOQbQGgz-89iGbnINL3h5xQ/s1600/IMG_5745.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7faQEQMjAyhB2ISieLRhCBZgj9f7dnE9_ijTbeuQiCql1e4u2j3dXlWUVDW12ZUpppxv9M8HUcsA-U2DMFKbDtPpmovHcuUyJg8BkLpV2WkjjlgrqOQbQGgz-89iGbnINL3h5xQ/s640/IMG_5745.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The pinkish hue of Lebanese sunsets</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Because Beirut can be lovely. Three days ago I had lunch
with two friends in a rather tiny restaurant in town. Actually, only one table
fits inside, so we had to sit with two other customers. By the end of the
lunch, we were basically friends. We figured out that his parents have a house
in the same village as where my husband used to spend his summers, we knew what
they did and where they lived and worked and heck, since we told them they
should get married, “I mean, 35, seriously dude, what are you waiting for, she
is a lovely girl” we’ll probably get invited for the wedding too. That, I dare
say, does not happen outside. So you take the lack of public services for
granted, while the structure of the society keeps you happy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmspEoqRJKHkBCR3FLSJINk9VzBSVBRuekocKsrUIJWJdMHj7ATvVq7RPmZuEDNQO7fdWakE4GOTM2PzYsL4sbfR2x-9O61lgQmfnxU_ed8q4XV75yNYM9OYV8m_V9ZDoIb1-0xg/s1600/IMG_6170.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1439" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmspEoqRJKHkBCR3FLSJINk9VzBSVBRuekocKsrUIJWJdMHj7ATvVq7RPmZuEDNQO7fdWakE4GOTM2PzYsL4sbfR2x-9O61lgQmfnxU_ed8q4XV75yNYM9OYV8m_V9ZDoIb1-0xg/s640/IMG_6170.JPG" width="574" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Malik el Vols" taking a look at my (daughter's) van</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So what have else have I been up to? Well, I spend my
weekdays working like a dog, and my weekends walking my dogs. Last Sunday I
started out with three of my own but <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BgLLYa7gPqg/?taken-by=sietskeinbeiroet" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">ended up with nine in the end</span></a>. They seemed
to be coming out of every nook and cranny and joined our pack. The switch
between winter and spring is a special one in the mountains. There is the sound
of running water everywhere, and there is grass. Being a Dutchie, I have an
affinity with grass, and there is lots of it now. It doesn’t last long and that
is why I cherish the couple of weeks when the hills are green.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">And so yes, I work hard, but I've got a job, and an interesting one at that, so I count my blessings.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL3BKIzLRuUuzVlHoXbQOTYHJJSW4SX0H-VamChkFqKe1A9cVG_sOq5AQvnQnADrTekeM_2N0NQ7s-55kdJ267dfl4yYzuC_LBvLC11uUF0xglXpDlZLwh0GnUpiGxqUuOeNNSXw/s1600/RIDI3753.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="436" data-original-width="1012" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL3BKIzLRuUuzVlHoXbQOTYHJJSW4SX0H-VamChkFqKe1A9cVG_sOq5AQvnQnADrTekeM_2N0NQ7s-55kdJ267dfl4yYzuC_LBvLC11uUF0xglXpDlZLwh0GnUpiGxqUuOeNNSXw/s640/RIDI3753.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mountain hike with friends (and dogs)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The winter is pretty much over, which is sad 'cause I
got to ski only once, but the flip side is that the sea is here, and so is
spring. I’ve been going on lovely afternoon boat rides, where all you see is
unhindered sun sets, soft breezes and pinkish hues on the horizon. It seems, as
I have claimed years ago, indeed something in the atmosphere that makes<span style="color: blue;"> <a href="http://www.spc.noaa.gov/publications/corfidi/sunset/"><span style="color: blue;">sunsets unique to the
location</span></a></span>, and the Lebanese ones are truly unique. And what may be spring
for you is like summer for a Dutchie, so we’ve been swimming already. Granted,
it seems to be jellyfish season as well, but that’s okay. They’re so huge you
cannot really miss them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCaPHGmWqtnyhspPlfU5kN_unIK-hlunthMH80ehrFvSfvA9k_D0rkBL_69_aNHbwRpypu1O1KRmz-USrtZoRuvXWUr_Y1_PT5Z-KcjAx5y1SK2zRAV8OhtP4LmBHH4jDzNYi2mQ/s1600/IMG_6232.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="857" data-original-width="1600" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCaPHGmWqtnyhspPlfU5kN_unIK-hlunthMH80ehrFvSfvA9k_D0rkBL_69_aNHbwRpypu1O1KRmz-USrtZoRuvXWUr_Y1_PT5Z-KcjAx5y1SK2zRAV8OhtP4LmBHH4jDzNYi2mQ/s640/IMG_6232.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Never thought about it but yes, you can carve your name in Arabic as well into a tree. This reads something like "I love you" with a date somewhere in 2014. I cannot decipher the name. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The hippie van is still in the making. We have located
Grerius (George in Arabic), who apparently is known around town as the ‘malik
al vols’ (The king of the Volkswagen) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>who
- at the ripe old age of 68 – has taken an interest in my bus. His verdict was
that the clutch was loose, the brakes non-existent, the exhaust was exciting in
the car (I had noticed that bit) and that the steering wheel had ‘play’ in
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That car will most definitely drive
for yet another 50 years (it’s from 1969). I’ve already located some fellow Volkswagen
van aficionados, and we’re totally going to move this hippie scene to the next
level. The other day I met a lady the other day over dinner, and was surprised
to hear that she had similar aspirations: she also wanted to become a hippie.
So more to come on that front. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs96k2oydpCsHolbB7PNwgKPe8TD8i6yYqq9YPT3n7D5ll5KkyzUvRF6p8Ypm9qZ_fKsj6klai4aOaVOE4iMPr6NdwHn6zSa4VVfIRno0-_6-ejKU4TOiRODs2se_IF2v65EyZkw/s1600/IMG_4389.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="638" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs96k2oydpCsHolbB7PNwgKPe8TD8i6yYqq9YPT3n7D5ll5KkyzUvRF6p8Ypm9qZ_fKsj6klai4aOaVOE4iMPr6NdwHn6zSa4VVfIRno0-_6-ejKU4TOiRODs2se_IF2v65EyZkw/s640/IMG_4389.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On my commute to work</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Then I keep getting letters from my Dutch bank, inquiring
where I intend to pay my taxes. Another reason for being grateful for that I
reside here. No amenities, no old age pension, bad roads, pollution, corruption
and fake elections. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A Banana Republic by
all accounts. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But I’d rather live happy than well.</span></div>
Sietskehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12063618922778363385noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11791864.post-33703895549180349032018-02-07T17:02:00.002+01:002018-02-07T17:09:08.011+01:00Shortest Ski Season Ever<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlEZubZhfYSP-eqXhlopgJoJai0lDWGoECXUZCO7xkgwFJ5C3vCFGpCQtGd_DCowGR31Zj1jyE0eoWROGY3_ufxbmEKSb5mZSgiuz-Atp7Jffhdl7UXOv-7xCU5i9NK8OxBRjLEA/s1600/IMG_4510.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1072" data-original-width="1600" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlEZubZhfYSP-eqXhlopgJoJai0lDWGoECXUZCO7xkgwFJ5C3vCFGpCQtGd_DCowGR31Zj1jyE0eoWROGY3_ufxbmEKSb5mZSgiuz-Atp7Jffhdl7UXOv-7xCU5i9NK8OxBRjLEA/s640/IMG_4510.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">The season started late because the snow was
late this year. But better late than never. Usually, we ski beginning January,
but this year we had to wait until then end of the month. And when there
finally was snow, we got fog as well. And although I love skiing while the
snowflakes are coming down, it was more of an exercise to find your way around.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">But last Saturday, finally, it was a
fantastic day for skiing. Clear and sunny skies, no traffic, well-groomed and
quiet slopes, they’d even thrown in a new lift somewhere way up high, so no
competition from the newbies, and crispy snow. Almost too good to be true.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Too good to be true, in fact. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Because it looks like that was indeed the one
and only ski day of the year 2018. It’s been an average of 12
degrees and over on the slopes the entire week. I think I might as well pack up
my gear again.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb3V0FujmxA8tOqJiQZuhV7A3mKkUHzp52YP8hiIVDM0nkkol0Lonxqa5I7XQbQHcJu8eqMNryFsLsDSbTI4wMATBPzxCapeRGhP0jvk97TEGq_9pOmnuizy2_iu-Mr7Pcq_YXEA/s1600/IMG_4572.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1030" data-original-width="1600" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb3V0FujmxA8tOqJiQZuhV7A3mKkUHzp52YP8hiIVDM0nkkol0Lonxqa5I7XQbQHcJu8eqMNryFsLsDSbTI4wMATBPzxCapeRGhP0jvk97TEGq_9pOmnuizy2_iu-Mr7Pcq_YXEA/s640/IMG_4572.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">One good day. This must have been the
shortest season ever. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It was, in other aspects, also a memorable
season, as it was my first time going solo after some 20 years. A rude
awakening, I might add. For as long as I ski, I have skied with my kids. First
I taught my son, and so we always skied together. My son actually enjoyed
skiing. He eventually switched to snowboarding, and as his friends were all on
the slopes of Feraya every weekend, in the end all I would see of him was
during the car ride up and the ride down. By that time, I had taught my
daughter, and I would ski with her. She <span style="color: blue;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim0nAhxEjRA-JLgIrF0zcWep1zfagr77rPETPnaq1td3xEJbtSZC6Ce6XQAiZzXCfK12X_m3CuXVUKRapMEPUCqu1PxtO6dFSvdD-qpBdwhfn3CesLmdmHjmMCl0SrfbiGQ19MZg/s1600/DSC00223.JPG">hated
skiing</a>,</span> but when she switched to
boarding, she became an avid fan, and so I always had a skiing buddy.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNRPQaDprpI3_C_XFhLwfsjAdPI-ZHcGeE6r4Edzyx0eLlIXz0pGwSvWVYOsCQspYiA-MZ7LqIvaDeOzqUmr6rjwfYHJPeylSvIujSy5gEqSOTY5EJTMdBacFAD-o7ctfeyL5rDA/s1600/IMG_4561.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNRPQaDprpI3_C_XFhLwfsjAdPI-ZHcGeE6r4Edzyx0eLlIXz0pGwSvWVYOsCQspYiA-MZ7LqIvaDeOzqUmr6rjwfYHJPeylSvIujSy5gEqSOTY5EJTMdBacFAD-o7ctfeyL5rDA/s640/IMG_4561.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">But this is of the past. She knows these
slopes like I knew the back alleys in my neighborhood. She knows how to get
from one end of the resort to the other, knows what lifts have lines and which
have not, which slopes are good in the morning and which in the afternoon, and where
they sell the best manakis zaatar. The
friends she grew up with all ski, and they’ve roamed the slopes with us, the
parents for the past years..<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">But last Thursday,</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">as we were discussing the plans for the
weekend, and I mentioned what time we would be going up to Feraya, she said:
“Oh, but I am not going with you.” </span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">She had it all planned. She didn’t even need a ride. Her whole weekend was laid
out. She’d be boarding with so and so, and this friends was joining, and that
friend would come too, and they would meet X there, and Y and Z would catch up
with them later.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">And here I was, all dressed up and nowhere to go.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdjpyRO-vjEnqKcbNUVxWXvMzwBcXeDy7cXR8d4QZcZX5Ydc5Wpp5fvNw6Unm0bFpgbAogxrZDM4zgyX0FYD2pU2y9gnQGgAP0kptr3wYlpMKY6F6MGgvAeFsO1PsHwiW1S7Yp8A/s1600/IMG_4272.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdjpyRO-vjEnqKcbNUVxWXvMzwBcXeDy7cXR8d4QZcZX5Ydc5Wpp5fvNw6Unm0bFpgbAogxrZDM4zgyX0FYD2pU2y9gnQGgAP0kptr3wYlpMKY6F6MGgvAeFsO1PsHwiW1S7Yp8A/s640/IMG_4272.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">For a fleeting moment, I thought about not
going myself. But hey, it’s not like next weekend was going to be any
different. And so I went. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">And it was lovely. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">But that was it. One good day. This was definitely my shortest season ever. Time to get the picnic basket out of the closet, and get ready for spring.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXTgR5kSiqqQNdOVutemAK1oCEezj1HZDQKlLH12jFvyXU7s3Em0V_UYKauZsKoRoi7Eb22qkzjCA2EnuABG8KatKMQMTKjSjZuVUepqLmnz5CJP_kYVSNtA6GlqavCr5_SO_xSg/s1600/IMG_4570.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXTgR5kSiqqQNdOVutemAK1oCEezj1HZDQKlLH12jFvyXU7s3Em0V_UYKauZsKoRoi7Eb22qkzjCA2EnuABG8KatKMQMTKjSjZuVUepqLmnz5CJP_kYVSNtA6GlqavCr5_SO_xSg/s640/IMG_4570.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
Sietskehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12063618922778363385noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11791864.post-42649925508780493902018-01-26T18:25:00.000+01:002018-01-26T18:25:15.075+01:00The Ministry of Mystery<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Not
sure if you’re familiar with John Cleese and the Ministry of Funny Walks, but
every time I have business at the Ministry of Education and Higher Education
(what? No department for Highest Education?), John Cleese comes to mind.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7WOkFPNXYPq7qCPpXHPlE65vcAR1BIc2DTl5BP6JUHDsc7up-XlelMgN-rvXm0Va5In2P15ho1Uh-qpZQlCCL_QxY20GThshStx75puAfEKZvzgji8YUo5nO1sBOlZcWhqnWoBQ/s1600/IMG_4057-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1153" data-original-width="1600" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7WOkFPNXYPq7qCPpXHPlE65vcAR1BIc2DTl5BP6JUHDsc7up-XlelMgN-rvXm0Va5In2P15ho1Uh-qpZQlCCL_QxY20GThshStx75puAfEKZvzgji8YUo5nO1sBOlZcWhqnWoBQ/s640/IMG_4057-001.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">The Ministry of Education and Higher Education at 7:40 AM. It is January 23, but the tree is still up</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">I
have had to be there - in my experience - quite a few times, either to exempt children from
Arabic state exams (entirely my own fault) or to baseline foreign university
degrees. And it has always been</span><span style="background-color: white; color: blue;"> <a href="http://sietske-in-beiroet.blogspot.com/2011/04/i-am-not-making-this-up.html"><span style="color: blue;">an
ordeal</span></a>.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> Today went smoothly, but still I hope - with all my heart –
that this will be my last visit ever.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The
workings of this ministry are strange and unusual, and the Ministry of Mystery
might be a better name. Let me show you how that goes.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white;">Back in December, I applied for an exemption for
my daughter from the Lebanese State Exam. Although the program in itself is of
an excellent level, most of the subjects are given in classical Arabic, a
language which is Chinese for my daughter. She has struggled since grade 1, and
has reached the point where she can actually read Arabic relatively fluently,
but as she does not know what the words mean, it is still Chinese to her. I will not
point any fingers as to whose fault this is.</span></div>
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjETltyRnR1KazyGqf-NiTiguRbh4BjxVDKzx78Q0XoMlL2savO4Owf-JJ_x7IeS7GVQF3Goa1zA_fNbt7Y-ZvhT5UiClKjgTRkLyOpTZRLjDcoP03Bg5bA2HMWow9cAGs22sPN6A/s1600/IMG_4052-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1092" data-original-width="1600" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjETltyRnR1KazyGqf-NiTiguRbh4BjxVDKzx78Q0XoMlL2savO4Owf-JJ_x7IeS7GVQF3Goa1zA_fNbt7Y-ZvhT5UiClKjgTRkLyOpTZRLjDcoP03Bg5bA2HMWow9cAGs22sPN6A/s640/IMG_4052-001.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When
you ask for the Arabic State Exam Exemption, you come with your paperwork (it’s
in Arabic so I am not able to tell you exactly what papers they are, and the English web site of the ministry does not work), two black
& white copies of each (color not allowed) to this famous Ministry of
Education in Beirut and you present yourself to a man behind a desk at the 2<sup>nd</sup> floor. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">This '</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">2</span><sup style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">nd</sup><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> floor' </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">in itself turned out to be already quite a feat for me, entirely my own
fault, but as you walk into the front door of the Ministry, you do not realize
that the back entry is actually one floor lower. As such, the entrance is not
on the ground floor but already the 1</span><sup style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">st</sup><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">floor. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">If
you take the elevator, you do not notice this dilemma, but when you take the
stairs, as I tend to do, and think you are at the ground floor, you obviously walk
two floors to get to the 2</span><sup style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">nd</sup><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">floor. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">However, you have actually reached the 3</span><sup style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">rd</sup><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">floor, but since there is an absolute
absence of any sign whatsoever in English, you have no clue as to where the
offices are that you need to visit. It is all in Arabic.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Anyway,
once that hurdle is conquered, and they direct you back to the 2</span><sup style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">nd</sup><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">floor, there is a man that gives you a ticket
with a number (grateful for that, no pushing and shoving here) and tells you to
get a stamp from the 1</span><sup style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">st</sup><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">floor (entrance floor, in this case). </span></span></div>
<span style="background: white; color: #222222;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">You go down and get your stamp. Back up to the 2<sup>nd</sup> floor.</span></div>
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Now
they need you to go to the 3<sup>rd</sup> floor, to get these papers, with the stamps,
certified by someone on that floor. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">Behind a little window on </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">the 3</span><sup style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">rd</sup><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">floor </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">is a friendly lady who tells you that you need stamps
for that too.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">So
you walk down to the 1</span><sup style="color: #222222;">st</sup><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">floor, buy your stamps, and back to the 3</span><sup style="color: #222222;">rd</sup><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
. </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The friendly lady then quite vigorously stamps
everything, than on top of that stamps the date and then signs over the
stamps. </span></span></div>
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white;">Back to the 2</span><sup>nd</sup><span style="background-color: white;"> floor now. </span></div>
<span style="background: white;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoLFjfnc9lH-hkCidru1s2dGlDqmd7tZoaNqeb8VABbVLR03Cc64cLm39HfszGB65XlQnGGMdAmJG7TMCWcUkIPqBVlwGD17vYmM8p9yQX2xCOI7r6aiO3RpqmJ4-IVk589oR1vg/s1600/IMG_4056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1136" data-original-width="1600" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoLFjfnc9lH-hkCidru1s2dGlDqmd7tZoaNqeb8VABbVLR03Cc64cLm39HfszGB65XlQnGGMdAmJG7TMCWcUkIPqBVlwGD17vYmM8p9yQX2xCOI7r6aiO3RpqmJ4-IVk589oR1vg/s640/IMG_4056.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Note the pen, attached with scotch tape and a little rope.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
There you wait in line until you are ushered in
a little office where another lady takes your paper work, checks it for irregularities,
and provides you with a slip of acceptance and the exact date it can be picked
up, which is about 3 weeks later.</div>
<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> </span></o:p></span><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Today
I could pick the paperwork up. I thought I’d be early since I am supposed to be
at work. So </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">7:30 and
I am at the door. After all, my job, also in education, starts at 7:30. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But I am the first one. </span></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>“We open at 8.”</i></span></span></div>
<span style="background: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
No problem</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</span></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoSwJg77re_BzOpcD-AiNxrkr2pY4S-gxagzLsB7hkyQNhIg-285OG83T8Uur88IkYrsHzdZ8tHlVEmBQQSDzf-5nUYYCWzvk4WdPqHMg5XG33pk_TgstfxOSdi2bc3E8NLaINUw/s1600/IMG_4055-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1226" data-original-width="1600" height="490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoSwJg77re_BzOpcD-AiNxrkr2pY4S-gxagzLsB7hkyQNhIg-285OG83T8Uur88IkYrsHzdZ8tHlVEmBQQSDzf-5nUYYCWzvk4WdPqHMg5XG33pk_TgstfxOSdi2bc3E8NLaINUw/s640/IMG_4055-001.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #222222;"></span><br /><span style="color: #222222;"></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">At 8 I may go to the 2</span><sup style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">nd</sup><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> floor. But when I enter the hallway, it is empty. The
guard has just walked in and is turning on the lights. This is clearly not a non-smoking ministry as there is a very strong odor of tobacco.</span></span></div>
<span style="background: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>“They
come at 8:30,” </i>says the guard. But he’s helpful. <i>“Do you have the stamps?” </i><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“<i>Stamps?”<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>“Yes,
you need 35,000 LBP pounds in stamps.”</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">No
problem, I walk down to the 1</span><sup style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">st</sup><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">floor where I bought my stamps last time. </span></span></div>
<span style="background: white; color: #222222;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>“No, these stamps you have to buy at the post office.</i>”</span></div>
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> </span></o:p></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">As in
a symbiotic relationship, the post office is very conveniently placed facing
the ministry. I assume people must be walking in the whole day for stamps so I
go to the front desk to buy my stamps.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>“No, those
stamps are on the 1<sup>st</sup> floor,”
</i>and via a very narrow stair case I get to a more unofficial part of the post
office for the stamps.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">With
my newly acquired stamps I go back to the ministry’s 2<sup>nd</sup> floor.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">There
I get a ticket from an in the meantime arrived employee, who sits down with his
first coffee and cigarette for the day. The cancer rate must be high in this
office. It reads number 1. I am the first customer of the day!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQIfUjNh5bNHioLE5fQHpsLNPa8mmmOaRPQXq0YYn6_5jrHmVGvFMzeo3sRdtisDDzi0ItCR150CRWp9_eOA7RaSD1WFofjt40wS0yeFi1ukzQwsyStp89NU5-4e7yRs7_3WHGYQ/s1600/IMG_4053-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1244" data-original-width="1600" height="496" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQIfUjNh5bNHioLE5fQHpsLNPa8mmmOaRPQXq0YYn6_5jrHmVGvFMzeo3sRdtisDDzi0ItCR150CRWp9_eOA7RaSD1WFofjt40wS0yeFi1ukzQwsyStp89NU5-4e7yRs7_3WHGYQ/s640/IMG_4053-001.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: justify;">The link on this paper is the link I had been looking for on the Internet, but could't find. The</span><span style="color: blue;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.mehe.gov.lb/Templates/HomePage.aspx" target="_blank">English part of their websit</a>e</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: justify;"> does not work. So how you are supposed to find this information is a mystery to me, unless you actually come to this office. The tie stamp is not accurate, I notice.</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> And
indeed, at 8:30 sharp, I get called in. I give my stamps, get the original
paperwork, stamped to a T, and then get a copy certified in another office.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">By
8:45 I am out again.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It
was by all means a smooth morning. The staff was on time, they were friendly
and helpful, no complaints.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222;">But I
cannot get this Ministry of Funny Walks out of my head. </span><span style="color: #222222;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span></div>
Sietskehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12063618922778363385noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11791864.post-29260824398913336782018-01-21T17:18:00.000+01:002018-01-21T17:19:41.530+01:00A Hippie Van in Lebanon<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiewcDUMzjb5UzCzS4raCFd0AlAFxUeTT__Ef538SnIK-EIAyR6CenTz7k0A9dbQkbHLlVUsW2lbGkFwpjfsHOjKr-UlUAVmlrTDmn-crJUOyIu9rYnnE7uEBIL6U4RiHcaKocxGA/s1600/IMG_3881.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiewcDUMzjb5UzCzS4raCFd0AlAFxUeTT__Ef538SnIK-EIAyR6CenTz7k0A9dbQkbHLlVUsW2lbGkFwpjfsHOjKr-UlUAVmlrTDmn-crJUOyIu9rYnnE7uEBIL6U4RiHcaKocxGA/s640/IMG_3881.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I think my son was 4 when I first went on a holiday in a
van. It was a Volkswagen Van (a T3, for the insiders) my brother owned, grass
green, with flowers on the side. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">You just need one summer trip to get hooked on van life, and hooked I was. I
soon bought my own van, a not too hip looking <a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/13/1984-1986_Volkswagen_Caravelle_%28253%29_CL_van_%282015-12-07%29_01.jpg/269px-1984-1986_Volkswagen_Caravelle_%28253%29_CL_van_%282015-12-07%29_01.jpg"><span style="color: blue;">brown
thing</span></a>, with the very fitting letters<span style="color: blue;"> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_BFG"><span style="color: blue;">BFG</span></a></span> in the license plate. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Since then I have had a succession of vans, getting slightly larger and more
equipped each time. But my children, maybe out of nostalgia for their youth,
always insist I go back to the old model, the Volkswagen van.</div>
<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD5rfkAyxnfcOD89_1MggWtwCjFfk4qco1OmixzrdJFod0vYo6kqDW_kveh92we7qZHxaBiJSuPGHAmKEYSWNQMmt2WF1PWM3B2CR8Ok27qmCTJg59xbda4xW3RXQqzOgxE-aKdw/s1600/IMG_3953.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1155" data-original-width="1600" height="462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD5rfkAyxnfcOD89_1MggWtwCjFfk4qco1OmixzrdJFod0vYo6kqDW_kveh92we7qZHxaBiJSuPGHAmKEYSWNQMmt2WF1PWM3B2CR8Ok27qmCTJg59xbda4xW3RXQqzOgxE-aKdw/s640/IMG_3953.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Future Lebanese Van Fans (Hippies)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In Europe, the old Volkswagen vans are hard to come by as
they have become a collector’s item; you’ve got to pay top dollars to get a
good one, and even more if it is equipped as a camper van. Here in Lebanon, it
is a bit of a Cuban situation. Volkswagen vans are still very much in use as
school buses. You see them navigating traffic at 7:00 AM with some 20 kids in
them, all with school bags, and often in school uniform. I understand the
uniform bit, but some schools have the odd habit to require the younger
students to wear a ‘maryoul’, a type of apron, boys and girl alike. Volkswagen Vans here are not yet the
hip-thing to have, there is still a bit of a stigma attached to it. I am sure
this will eventually come, as there are already <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Bdmm4H_gF1H/?taken-by=ofwandersandvans"><span style="color: blue;">a few
Lebanese hipsters</span></a> that have discovered<span style="color: blue;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BZtRO5nACE6/?taken-by=ofwandersandvans"><span style="color: blue;">the
benefits of a camper van</span></a>.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW9ESekHlxFKQfgvg2Yl3TbNQhzCQQ79XC1tFq8Y9a_tvIccIai26yhLtHOoirRvTc-rSuKM63RUecZ2W7qTuHLHqFvoqWjrjZEfsfksXHjL2UoOZDZHUnuA3xJQIycgqAOTUWLw/s1600/IMG_4011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW9ESekHlxFKQfgvg2Yl3TbNQhzCQQ79XC1tFq8Y9a_tvIccIai26yhLtHOoirRvTc-rSuKM63RUecZ2W7qTuHLHqFvoqWjrjZEfsfksXHjL2UoOZDZHUnuA3xJQIycgqAOTUWLw/s640/IMG_4011.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">This is what the dashboard looked like when we bought it. It still looks this way.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Anyway, we were driving through the Beqaa Valley one day,
and stopped at a local dikkaneh (small mini-market), when my daughter and I saw
this one Volkswagen van somewhere in the back, next to a pile of pallets, a discarded
fridge and bits and pieces of scrap metal. Actually, it was hard to figure out
it was a van. Or even a Volkswagen. There just wasn’t much left of it, but just
like an old Coca Cola bottle, their design is so peculiar, you can recognize
these vans from bits and pieces. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
“<i>Ooooh</i>,” says the daughter (who aspires to become a hippie. Whatever happened
to ‘doctor’, or ‘neuro surgeon’?) “<i>That’s the van I want.</i>” She saw obvious
potential in this wreck. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglR5Yuddw9wlzY5oNigT_VKTCKuqwU3ooK4I-sJowBBVxDd3OmrQcIVMhXmkXhos7DhNT5gSvimHNJn2E3NE4C9FXvVPkvSYGnjsLAyOeRbo_xHu6vvICG148MoY5Av3HqSALWAg/s1600/IMG_8239.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglR5Yuddw9wlzY5oNigT_VKTCKuqwU3ooK4I-sJowBBVxDd3OmrQcIVMhXmkXhos7DhNT5gSvimHNJn2E3NE4C9FXvVPkvSYGnjsLAyOeRbo_xHu6vvICG148MoY5Av3HqSALWAg/s640/IMG_8239.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The front seats :) </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Her father, being the typical Lebanese father of a daughter,
uttered the famous words “I will get it for you,” and off he went, to
investigate and negotiate. One hour later, the van was hers. It was a 1969 T2,
an early model. On a good day, they look like<span style="color: blue;"> </span></span><a href="https://i.pinimg.com/originals/3b/f0/59/3bf0590a150ddacb2413032445412c19.jpg" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: blue;">this</span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Now she wouldn’t turn 18 until another 4 years, so you may think this to be a
little premature, but from the state of the van, it was quite clear that it was
not going to run anytime soon. If ever.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Well. He’s been dragging it (since it did not really run, it had to be transported on a tow-truck for most of the time) around
from one dark and suspicious garage to another. It got stripped off everything,
which was probably the easiest part as there was nothing in it anymore.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaDujwBn_dH7VIu8bc1hJKd73v4FUKRtu10vyDpMnjW-Ctom_8xUuNXO_Wz6dhcIEoRj-GuREwslqW2BxZwyonGUFo-9i85nC08TEhmvFmjkR5qtH1ch19jWE9IbyL2tRmk35PKA/s1600/IMG_4012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="975" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaDujwBn_dH7VIu8bc1hJKd73v4FUKRtu10vyDpMnjW-Ctom_8xUuNXO_Wz6dhcIEoRj-GuREwslqW2BxZwyonGUFo-9i85nC08TEhmvFmjkR5qtH1ch19jWE9IbyL2tRmk35PKA/s640/IMG_4012.JPG" width="630" /></a><o:p><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">One guy did the gear box, another one knew about plate work,
a third one had the spare parts for a T2 from 1969, the fourth knew about
radiators and engines, the fifth had ‘some’ knowledge about upholstery and the
sixth did the paint job. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Getting a license plate was an equally arduous affair, as we had changed the
engine. The original engine, a T2, is air-cooled, which in our summer climate,
when she is supposedly going to drive it around, will result in an overcooked
engine, and – so we were told – it’s easier to replace it with a Polo engine,
easier to drive, easier to maintain, better performance and no problems with
overheating. However, now the number of the car and the number of the engine
did not match, and so getting it through car registration also took its toll on
her father’s mood. So when he finally delivered it, this month, he was totally
done with this car. It ended up being more expensive than a </span><a href="https://wheelers.me/en/lebanon/cars/brands/kia" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: blue;">brand new KIA.</span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> <br />“<i>I do
not want to hear anything anymore ever again about this car</i>.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglphcuFNDBg0AiK2lY9wZkPeqlkIJEn9LD7G4zzeGxU8K_PnuJG1Iexx69oSKV0s4iRs_aRhx4f21XUQTOcsSu6hhtBh1aKce4s1DkW8TXdiik9HXFp5zKgj96YiV5Xai2ypePSw/s1600/IMG_3951.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglphcuFNDBg0AiK2lY9wZkPeqlkIJEn9LD7G4zzeGxU8K_PnuJG1Iexx69oSKV0s4iRs_aRhx4f21XUQTOcsSu6hhtBh1aKce4s1DkW8TXdiik9HXFp5zKgj96YiV5Xai2ypePSw/s640/IMG_3951.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">This Saturday (daughter and some friends and I, the
designated driver) took it on its maiden voyage. It took some effort to get it
out of the parking garage, since I haven’t driven a stick shift in ages. The seat belts in the front, once fastened,
would not unfasten anymore, and we had to wiggle our way out of them. Pretty
soon, actually, at the first corner, we figured out that the upholstery guy had
failed to bolt the benches to the floor. I question this rather suspiciously.
Seriously now, why would you not secure a car seat? The next thing we found out
is that all the in-door handles were basically inoperable. The windows wouldn’t
roll down because we did not have those roll-down thingies, doors didn’t close
properly, and if they closed, they most definitely did not lock. Essentially,
the car has no locks. Driving around school children here obviously does not
require a ‘proof-of-safety’ permit. But it did drive. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI_9j8d9iFCZm9XkTk23kytSprRvRV0606gDDbH4hUgCuyTWHNTramTvSqi5YzgHZ7DNdtYTkp0F1mB6snCEaRsFRwgXq_VkFoe-w901MSnDm8d-xb9PlMBUFHteyUmTUM-dk5Mw/s1600/IMG_E3761.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1046" data-original-width="1053" height="634" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI_9j8d9iFCZm9XkTk23kytSprRvRV0606gDDbH4hUgCuyTWHNTramTvSqi5YzgHZ7DNdtYTkp0F1mB6snCEaRsFRwgXq_VkFoe-w901MSnDm8d-xb9PlMBUFHteyUmTUM-dk5Mw/s640/IMG_E3761.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lovely new upholstery. Unfortunately, the seats were not bolted to the floor. Seat belts are absent as well.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">So the first stop was Bourj Hammoud, where the car part
dealers live. I learned something new in Arabic. There are two type of car
parts; the basic ones that are required to keep the engine running, which are
called ‘parts’, or ‘<i>ottah</i>’, in Arabic. And then there are the not so basic
ones, the pimp-your-car ones, so to speak, which are the called ‘aksesuare’,
coming from the French ‘<i>accessoires</i>’. So
the roll-up handles for the window are ‘ottah’, but the car radio is an ‘<i>aksesuare</i>’.
And shops that sell <i>ottah </i>do no sell <i>aksesuare</i>. We got a truckers knob, because
power steering had not yet been invented in 1969 (also an ‘<i>aksesuare</i>’).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNMAxB-cG9OgAVU6wqzPuo4W50CJFKP7HdT27t7yFwE4dk163_eBvVQh8Jv6yKmtV6LmMCw_m0WpB4P23bplLPC95uW52vpX7PMddvnKmgSPsk9OA45CKnMzuS1YhAsaEJ_Z24fA/s1600/IMG_3954.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNMAxB-cG9OgAVU6wqzPuo4W50CJFKP7HdT27t7yFwE4dk163_eBvVQh8Jv6yKmtV6LmMCw_m0WpB4P23bplLPC95uW52vpX7PMddvnKmgSPsk9OA45CKnMzuS1YhAsaEJ_Z24fA/s640/IMG_3954.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">And then we lost a door.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Bourj Hammoud, a small neighborhood with tiny tiny streets,
dead-end alleyways, no parking space and traffic jams, is a great way for a quick lesson on changing
gears, and how to get the van in reverse. Somehow the gear box shifts position
now and then. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We quickly noticed that the exhaust fumes ended up in the car instead of the
outside, but we fixed that problem once we discovered where the engine was and
noticed that some hoses had come loose.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Eventually everything that was not loose, rattled loose, and
what was loose, came off. In the end, we lost the entire sliding door, and with
the help of some parking attendants, placed it in the back seat and drove home
without a side door. I am eternally grateful for the rather lenient traffic
rules in this country.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipCzJRUays7rFlGGsl7oskPJy07AC0EuGhB_j8UKBwKIAZxQ1aUXc4M6lGI7vAYaJ-f2Hnrm1ZYLD5Poj3zd96GoSoGPzYZJPJzz2RYxxzniMlNCx0wefJ-vRnC2VQlUDD6olZig/s1600/IMG_3955.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="968" data-original-width="1600" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipCzJRUays7rFlGGsl7oskPJy07AC0EuGhB_j8UKBwKIAZxQ1aUXc4M6lGI7vAYaJ-f2Hnrm1ZYLD5Poj3zd96GoSoGPzYZJPJzz2RYxxzniMlNCx0wefJ-vRnC2VQlUDD6olZig/s640/IMG_3955.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Okay, we'll drive without a door. Long live the Lebanese traffic laws</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">But we are going back to the drawing board. Since her father
has pulled his hands off this project, I will continue this labor and will pimp
up this van so that by the time my daughter is actually 18, this will be a
reliable and safe car. I am driving it up this afternoon to a guy in the
mountains who knows about doors. They say. I will be wearing my Artic gear, as
one door is missing, and the knobs to get the heater on are gone as well. I
will keep you updated on the van adventures in Lebanon.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Sietskehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12063618922778363385noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11791864.post-4739206751808874762018-01-07T20:45:00.001+01:002018-01-07T20:45:57.686+01:00New Year Resolution<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr7T7_I-VArWaszUI6zt8l1aMz_R1SAAFFJ5B7TVI5Zz__ryxfoLuzga7Q6NsJcnqUJNFW3oJlx__9topjm0h66KAMxs4ZS7-FFdoOmm2DtZoby2TsybEP-Gr8N0NPoctbLGFX1Q/s1600/IMG_3508.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="993" data-original-width="1600" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr7T7_I-VArWaszUI6zt8l1aMz_R1SAAFFJ5B7TVI5Zz__ryxfoLuzga7Q6NsJcnqUJNFW3oJlx__9topjm0h66KAMxs4ZS7-FFdoOmm2DtZoby2TsybEP-Gr8N0NPoctbLGFX1Q/s640/IMG_3508.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ras Beirut at sun set, Sunday afternoon, 16:29 PM</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-align: justify;">Another year has gone by.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">2017 has been a good year for me. At first it was an
‘<i>okay</i>’ year, but while spending time back home, in Holland, my father read aloud
the Christmas cards he had received from friends and family (back home they
still send real cards, written by hand), and 2017 was not a good year for many,
it seems. People got fired, divorced, lost a car, were at home with a burn-out,
had to deal with a bedbug plague, got sick, died or lost children. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaoMO4q_MDmlyxKaaIrKP-k5H1YARGKa76SN1md06YfLr7mj7nXbT2i5S_OMaZYhFOifVXFVu1E5H68H8cl1pFsA2A4ZYHFIS-aK_DFtWzo3I373XaPahVqRarfvJ4cGPyqkbKMg/s1600/IMG_3481.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1062" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaoMO4q_MDmlyxKaaIrKP-k5H1YARGKa76SN1md06YfLr7mj7nXbT2i5S_OMaZYhFOifVXFVu1E5H68H8cl1pFsA2A4ZYHFIS-aK_DFtWzo3I373XaPahVqRarfvJ4cGPyqkbKMg/s640/IMG_3481.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Both east (left) and west (right) Beirut</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And in the light of other people’s misfortune, my year turned out to be pretty good. But even without the misfortune of others, I
count my blessings. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
And my new year’s resolution? I will try to be a more productive blogger (She
said, seven days into the new year), and will work on enjoying Beirut more. I
should start by thanking everyone still reading me. May your new year be as
good as my old year was.</div>
<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjStv0mjouwQ00Pod1SmnsB_53AOSz-CfQyFXlxq1EbKeLqcPTp7h4f53UzraRMIL_3v36RNY0RSo5_4dulkloMw6ZI7dYxs9fknR4alzP1N15aEuXmXMTkvfQuhe4sC9agGeRVCA/s1600/IMG_3507.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="825" data-original-width="1600" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjStv0mjouwQ00Pod1SmnsB_53AOSz-CfQyFXlxq1EbKeLqcPTp7h4f53UzraRMIL_3v36RNY0RSo5_4dulkloMw6ZI7dYxs9fknR4alzP1N15aEuXmXMTkvfQuhe4sC9agGeRVCA/s640/IMG_3507.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The cargo cranes at the port</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">After spending Christmas and New Year’s in Holland, it is
good to be back again. I do understand that Europe, or the west in general, is
appealing to many people in Lebanon, and I get the economic attraction, but life
outside of Lebanon really isn’t everything. I am aware that this is an easy statement
to make from my position, as I, the owner of a ‘lucky’ passport which allows me
to venture just about everywhere and work in many countries, don’t share the
bleak outlook many Lebanese young people have. I actually have a job that
allows me to live in Lebanon. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfHXvtbmpVrGq7mpmP9P13zG4bZX2Pmwqr_unRIKfV-rVnQ2Jve5SkM4iB3WNbefQffWNXFpb27SlGujE3mgWzzH8RwN2itjmnisU9T5BEp4PDDwLJpIqMIv_vGRw9H-1KCPOl8Q/s1600/IMG_3452.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="742" data-original-width="1600" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfHXvtbmpVrGq7mpmP9P13zG4bZX2Pmwqr_unRIKfV-rVnQ2Jve5SkM4iB3WNbefQffWNXFpb27SlGujE3mgWzzH8RwN2itjmnisU9T5BEp4PDDwLJpIqMIv_vGRw9H-1KCPOl8Q/s640/IMG_3452.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But when I look at the pictures I made in Holland, the
first thing that I notice are the colors. The constant overcast skies and
darkness (there were days when it seemed like the sun rose at 11 AM and the sun
set at 1 PM) cast a gloomy atmosphere over everything. And you can photoshop all you like, gloomy is
as gloomy does. And then I get back to Beirut, and even in the rain, there’s bright
and vibrant colors. That’s free vitamin D for you (Vitamin D fight’s diseases,
reduces depression and (they say) boost weight loss) .<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG7dmfMcOBPqssp50iaa2bx_jCFaGSWS1eWo54eeliSrVfhM9QFWkr0iTtW_mxxxUTW5xGJOd88-_ZN9BwR5ZznRfqrqfrS2GmbDICByKHbORSQlN6fDcYC2lVgxBr4DTs0dtlpQ/s1600/IMG_3509.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="756" data-original-width="1600" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG7dmfMcOBPqssp50iaa2bx_jCFaGSWS1eWo54eeliSrVfhM9QFWkr0iTtW_mxxxUTW5xGJOd88-_ZN9BwR5ZznRfqrqfrS2GmbDICByKHbORSQlN6fDcYC2lVgxBr4DTs0dtlpQ/s640/IMG_3509.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boats waiting for their place in the port</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Yes, I realize Lebanon is difficult for young people who
need to build their own a future, but I went on a little boat ride this afternoon, and I
am thinking, this is a good place, and it is going to be a good year,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
Sietskehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12063618922778363385noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11791864.post-75188464203348360532017-12-17T16:59:00.000+01:002017-12-17T16:59:22.717+01:00Regenerating<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPnf_vDxsKUmBfbEO5db_dOsAHR25W9S2iUeLTJ8hdtp01PAW-dRTo5yvNCwT8bpvVTXJQkMkqYLyfv5W35RfrNq0_ioOyivvU-sUptTLYhwXOkohpnSEcmS4rHVL0mkBc0lhzMw/s1600/IMG_1755.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1030" data-original-width="1600" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPnf_vDxsKUmBfbEO5db_dOsAHR25W9S2iUeLTJ8hdtp01PAW-dRTo5yvNCwT8bpvVTXJQkMkqYLyfv5W35RfrNq0_ioOyivvU-sUptTLYhwXOkohpnSEcmS4rHVL0mkBc0lhzMw/s640/IMG_1755.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was the site of Saturday's early morning hike</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Still very much alive, but recovering from an eye
operation and so the adventuring, photo editing and typing goes at half speed.
It seems to be the season; about half the staff at work is either on crutches, in slings, </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">limping, </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">on pills or otherwise incapacitated. And although I seem to have arrived
at an age where I should no longer be surprised at the untimely death of people my own generation, it still surprises and shocks me. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">But ‘the first one’ passed away not long ago,
and the awareness of one’s own mortality is present after a few near-brushes with
death of friends and family. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Q1K9Cb_BiCRpvRFHNo2GRh7ObknDUEGdnSQryjjDaoc9HdVYLW8TNd0yS28upzWADJB9XpgdXOUlUMiuKFMP0eTUly1CtUwFVeydhw2mP9CF-nB5fTsnLoQq-BUPkgmi6l0JKA/s1600/IMG_1894.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Q1K9Cb_BiCRpvRFHNo2GRh7ObknDUEGdnSQryjjDaoc9HdVYLW8TNd0yS28upzWADJB9XpgdXOUlUMiuKFMP0eTUly1CtUwFVeydhw2mP9CF-nB5fTsnLoQq-BUPkgmi6l0JKA/s640/IMG_1894.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A break at an old shepherd's shed</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This past year I received messages from four (!) childhood friends that one of their parents has died. These are moms and dads I
grew up with and had conversations with. These are people I remember guiding us
while we moved from childhood into adults. I am currently doing this with my
children. It is a clear indication that my friends and I are now in the process
of becoming the older generation. It is a humbling thought.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Beirut seems to have lost a bit of its glamour for me.
Maybe it is because times are changing, and this extra one point five million
people is starting to have an effect on the society as a whole. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQy8PTThCv3K8Ir7H6QsKILlE_Az-qPSuWFN2S5rAiolPX6AHRIC9T6u7og-TqaAH9v-ep3bfztWq3dG21mQJeCRA-wo5TS-TtusM0tGTRZaiw3BxtqyWYWSOOBWR98bGZuN95xQ/s1600/IMG_1813.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQy8PTThCv3K8Ir7H6QsKILlE_Az-qPSuWFN2S5rAiolPX6AHRIC9T6u7og-TqaAH9v-ep3bfztWq3dG21mQJeCRA-wo5TS-TtusM0tGTRZaiw3BxtqyWYWSOOBWR98bGZuN95xQ/s640/IMG_1813.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The city is very congested, and I have come to a point
where I no longer venture to certain neighborhoods because of the traffic. I
feel sorry for the retail industry; I am certain that they must feel it too. A
lot of my decisions on going places is now related to the traffic. If it
requires more than 40 minutes in traffic, I drop the idea, or I move at ungodly
hours. I am lucky that I live in a neighborhood where everything can be done on
foot, but I am becoming a neighborhood hermit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9sbV0b4Uf6o8SD5yM9htxKDf6GeXrYE9KRxkFvql7Miyjit7RDDpaeCsTtYqJqJNc-m02dZJX3HVqCAmA_ARGIbgMn1SbauKgMCO7gCjn-8eUThGlIgtIQcZH6_bX0SJ-pw0YcA/s1600/IMG_1879.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="603" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9sbV0b4Uf6o8SD5yM9htxKDf6GeXrYE9KRxkFvql7Miyjit7RDDpaeCsTtYqJqJNc-m02dZJX3HVqCAmA_ARGIbgMn1SbauKgMCO7gCjn-8eUThGlIgtIQcZH6_bX0SJ-pw0YcA/s640/IMG_1879.JPG" width="640" /></a><o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">There are some
sparks, now and then, when the people here come together. Last month I did the
marathon (notice how I very craftily avoid the word ‘walk’, as if giving the
impression I might have run it, which I of course most definitely did not) ,
and the mood was good; upbeat and friendly.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But life occurs in cycles, and I feel I have ‘seen’ this
cycle; it is time for a change. There are quite a few projects I have on the (back)
burner, but time constraints prevent me from execution right now. Just a few
more years, and then I intend to radically change course. I need to discover
different parts and aspects of this country. I am looking forward to that. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGuMIogZyp-yhMaLC12-m7xnsH9DZkP29WUGzccmVwS4JmJfZVW3M8DzruXHG2Ww3BDr2fmHAb91AE-M03Z4HNJFnLGcAL2bKjbQPfsKh0KkCLCWyTgVcbfo2uCziTH6yWZaoBRw/s1600/IMG_1816.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGuMIogZyp-yhMaLC12-m7xnsH9DZkP29WUGzccmVwS4JmJfZVW3M8DzruXHG2Ww3BDr2fmHAb91AE-M03Z4HNJFnLGcAL2bKjbQPfsKh0KkCLCWyTgVcbfo2uCziTH6yWZaoBRw/s640/IMG_1816.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In the meantime, I get inspired by hikes in the mountains.
It is regenerating. One of my projects – in the years to come - is to develop some
type of hiking guide in Lebanon, without guide. There’s plenty of outfits that
will take you on the weekend, but you are stuck to someone else’s schedule, time,
pace and route. I’d like to develop something where you can go on your own in
your own time. Different hikes, with or without small kids, hikes that are good
with dogs, hikes that are good for picnics and so on. I doubt it will make
money, because the only people I ever meet on the mountain top are a specific
kind, but money is not the issue. It’d be great to share parts of Lebanon that
are still great, and pristine and ‘off-the-grid’ so the speak. And there are so
many of them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7famvx23NQH0-E1tqbRfvApicaYxSCERJXgn3dpRf9T1CdnOFa8xw2gpCZ-9hXsavFppBvWgJe2oJSuKD4UKQFdPm-e0G5h6o6D7TRhkqMI41Meq3AdNNecXj_8XgDHQfvQl8CQ/s1600/IMG_1928.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7famvx23NQH0-E1tqbRfvApicaYxSCERJXgn3dpRf9T1CdnOFa8xw2gpCZ-9hXsavFppBvWgJe2oJSuKD4UKQFdPm-e0G5h6o6D7TRhkqMI41Meq3AdNNecXj_8XgDHQfvQl8CQ/s640/IMG_1928.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This one made me laugh. Some idiot probably went 'off-roading' with his girlfriend in her new sneakers. I wonder how he got her out of it. The car was stuck. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This weekend I hiked quite a bit, so I share those images
with you; a reminder that Lebanon is really a beautiful place. Something that
needs to be preserved and passed on to the next generation. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh86ZBeew22dld_BJMvVu1AAp_c93xwVW0X9k1aEnp8oMr9aOOYy5y6MSp4j8UHGZWZtiNvni0NOMt-a4sagaEblvoVdWQR8ItwN3GmmAZard5hgT0ids7Ax0bCDkzRtwqVKxOpAQ/s1600/IMG_1922.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh86ZBeew22dld_BJMvVu1AAp_c93xwVW0X9k1aEnp8oMr9aOOYy5y6MSp4j8UHGZWZtiNvni0NOMt-a4sagaEblvoVdWQR8ItwN3GmmAZard5hgT0ids7Ax0bCDkzRtwqVKxOpAQ/s640/IMG_1922.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We've had to resort to 'dressing up' this one dog of ours. He looks a bit too much like a wild thing apparently, and one hunter - for lack of birds - nearly took him out because he thought it was 'a wolf'. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
Sietskehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12063618922778363385noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11791864.post-48425628890965536572017-11-26T20:17:00.001+01:002017-11-26T20:17:40.967+01:00Sunday Morning Walk in the Mountains above Beirut<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL8Y6wXjciy2LDiL_IZjNVzrIuWktJvEY3FKrV61sUdTvJ6MriAJ_GBKU4Pnzs2EoVdfchIZYKX5L0HvCYlWsTaI7pVisN6NNF0tVXCYYIwO8Ao5vKp1VeSqBoCYxR3tBzp9BydA/s1600/IMG_1335.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="902" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL8Y6wXjciy2LDiL_IZjNVzrIuWktJvEY3FKrV61sUdTvJ6MriAJ_GBKU4Pnzs2EoVdfchIZYKX5L0HvCYlWsTaI7pVisN6NNF0tVXCYYIwO8Ao5vKp1VeSqBoCYxR3tBzp9BydA/s640/IMG_1335.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I am sharing pictures of this morning (Sunday morning)
walk through the mountains above Beirut. A friend decided to join us at 8 AM,
quire courageously I might say, but the weather has been lovely lately.
Temperatures are dropping (finally), fall will slowly merge into winter, and although
the first winter storms will not occur until the beginning of January, the
first snow has settled in the higher regions. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">If it stays this way, we’ll have a wonderful ski season.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The mountains are a respite from busy Beirut. Beirut is
becoming nasty these days. Last Friday I had an argument with a man in a
parking lot. Actually, I had the argument. He couldn’t have cared less. To be
more precise, he couldn’t give a shit. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgceLCaKQ8Dw2BSCf2ASI2JVYNvRrfNpA5gEH06Q1f1XbA9kZhVC2_VMcVr-XdSTBftVBZ8nvQr9_Eo7VAdmjxkyhTCNc9j07uRV7JiVsbzio8PlPPgQWLwf_blL2rccSoBj-l8Ag/s1600/IMG_1332.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="967" data-original-width="1600" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgceLCaKQ8Dw2BSCf2ASI2JVYNvRrfNpA5gEH06Q1f1XbA9kZhVC2_VMcVr-XdSTBftVBZ8nvQr9_Eo7VAdmjxkyhTCNc9j07uRV7JiVsbzio8PlPPgQWLwf_blL2rccSoBj-l8Ag/s640/IMG_1332.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">You see, I had to buy a chair, but there was no parking
to be found anywhere. It was a Friday, noon time, and around a mosque, so
parking spots can be a problem then. I ended up giving my car to a valet parking
guy, who parked it in a parking lot. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">A certain Issam M. was also looking for a parking spot. Issam
M. was in a hurry. He wanted to go and pray but he was late. He had a Mercedes
and a mobile phone, but apparently not the 2,000 LBP needed to pay for the
parking lot. So he decided to just park in the parking lot entrance, and go and
pray. Fuck everyone else in the parking lot. His business came first. He did
not think it might inconvenience anyone that they would not be able to leave
that parking lot anymore, because his business was more important than everyone
else’s, they would just have to wait.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfBF6QRcym2s9nRBZRSA3Tty9hUvVuOUGB8DrunwIZQMBoNE1YOrCUzfzKVmUNdtEkperGq3Y1NHoajvNhlVLCEtuBGfSGYjhqlwILg3aKflQ9cuwOv9zngejzRS3hIGwMexDzDg/s1600/IMG_1333.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="882" data-original-width="1600" height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfBF6QRcym2s9nRBZRSA3Tty9hUvVuOUGB8DrunwIZQMBoNE1YOrCUzfzKVmUNdtEkperGq3Y1NHoajvNhlVLCEtuBGfSGYjhqlwILg3aKflQ9cuwOv9zngejzRS3hIGwMexDzDg/s640/IMG_1333.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He did not leave his car open so it could be moved just
in case. He did not leave his keys with a guard in case someone needed to leave.
No. Issam did not do any of that. He had his number on this window, but he
turned off his phone while praying.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And so here I am, stuck in a parking lot. For 37 minutes. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">What is 37 minutes in the life span of a human? Nothing.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And although it did bother me, that I should sit in a car in a parking lot,
planning to do things but unable to execute them because Issam M. had to do his
thing first, I would have been okay with it if, while coming back to
his car, he would have looked at me, addressed me, and somehow apologized for
his unthoughtfulness. Something like, ‘oh, so sorry, I paid no attention’. Or ‘sorry,
I was not aware I was gone for that long’. Or just a plain ‘sorry’. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">But no, Issam M. did not do any of that. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">He let me wait for 37 minutes, and when he
came back, he just got into his car, did not even acknowledge the fact he had
let me wait, and decided to drive off. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEaitpa1Y21uhEsxGqHyFVu_lTh6FOIDBweOcCnghyphenhyphenWoB7s1pTIXxResU9WZXeafagQJozq87H4INw3qZWXn6s26zGmaL6ncXVvhcFkaP63dxu1OIjoqAR6xBHWSqNF9L_0YVRXg/s1600/IMG_1294.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="1600" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEaitpa1Y21uhEsxGqHyFVu_lTh6FOIDBweOcCnghyphenhyphenWoB7s1pTIXxResU9WZXeafagQJozq87H4INw3qZWXn6s26zGmaL6ncXVvhcFkaP63dxu1OIjoqAR6xBHWSqNF9L_0YVRXg/s640/IMG_1294.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Me videotaping him did bother him quite a bit. He was
even willing to get out of his car for that. Who had given me the permission to
film him? Ahhhh, yes, indeed. Which reminded me; who gave him the permission to
block me? “I was in a hurry”, he replied.
And, he said to the parking attendant, he’d been gone for only 15 minutes. I mean really, what was my problem? Well. It wasn’t 15 minutes. It was 37 .
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I guess time flies when you pray. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I hope he prayed for forgiveness. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Well, got that off my chest. Maybe I should post that video. Naaah, I am nice.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjYD4DfSw26jRCgxAjOdUhGjX_6YPVDGR3ihVbzJVwROkiN54MEyKd_XWAkWmHS9bDXr07S2Jm_5Hn04caACJMJiLJSc7gp1DOi-gwE_zTY7Opmb6Ij8mn9g_yteetEI4hPZbAfQ/s1600/IMG_1334.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1162" data-original-width="1600" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjYD4DfSw26jRCgxAjOdUhGjX_6YPVDGR3ihVbzJVwROkiN54MEyKd_XWAkWmHS9bDXr07S2Jm_5Hn04caACJMJiLJSc7gp1DOi-gwE_zTY7Opmb6Ij8mn9g_yteetEI4hPZbAfQ/s640/IMG_1334.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">And <a href="https://writingexplained.org/idiom-dictionary/bet-your-bottom-dollar" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">I bet your bottom dollar </span></a>that I will receive comments
that will insinuate I do not respect the muslim faith, to which I will reply -
in advance - that I respect every religion equally. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I also predict that there will be commenters, always anonymous ones, or ones
with fake profiles, who will insult me for insulting islam, to which I will
reply, I insult the christians that triple park their cars in front of the
church in Kahale on the road to the mountains, thus creating traffic jams that
go one for kilometers because they
cannot be bothered to walk 100 meters to church as their Sunday duty is so
infinitely more important than people trying to drive somewhere else, with
equal vehemence.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">And for everyone who is offended enough to leave a comment, seriously, why do
you bother to read me in the first place?</span></div>
Sietskehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12063618922778363385noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11791864.post-14153636446200912122017-11-20T21:33:00.002+01:002017-11-20T21:33:17.035+01:00My Mountain House<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWiWltF9rg-hAmWfi5fpO1mQo9Pb6Hcahz_csvreLHMDcsvBBVABZ4rqUaqMECgnfm4plg10r8I8cyHIOt9a8wI9wKUnoIgJThR8XMbfDuMrdfOfwgIRtu6brtf3BIpBZrfQwjdA/s1600/IMG_1017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWiWltF9rg-hAmWfi5fpO1mQo9Pb6Hcahz_csvreLHMDcsvBBVABZ4rqUaqMECgnfm4plg10r8I8cyHIOt9a8wI9wKUnoIgJThR8XMbfDuMrdfOfwgIRtu6brtf3BIpBZrfQwjdA/s640/IMG_1017.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So this would be the road to my house</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I’ve got this plan. I am going to win the lottery, and
then I am going to buy a </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">wonderful Lebanese mountain
house from the fifties, restore it, move into it, and spend my days
reading, gardening, making marmalade and sell it for a good cause, and wearing
outrageously unfashionable clothes.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I have yet to win
the lottery (I am working on it), but this weekend I found my mountain house
from the fifties.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh186CekUmJN2ULEC7Uwn2hDG5jANhlr9ptz5V83GW9XSOji03JLFBna71mTOMYhXdi_NN5PTT5A4ToMeXz-iqzztb32T0LlCl5jlYoD_Y-Svx83cpm-Y2SQwBDLDAXQG5ooYl-Hw/s1600/IMG_1025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh186CekUmJN2ULEC7Uwn2hDG5jANhlr9ptz5V83GW9XSOji03JLFBna71mTOMYhXdi_NN5PTT5A4ToMeXz-iqzztb32T0LlCl5jlYoD_Y-Svx83cpm-Y2SQwBDLDAXQG5ooYl-Hw/s640/IMG_1025.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And here is the house. Build right at the edge of a cliff. You see only the two tops floors. there is a bottom floor, but not visible from this level. But this would be the actual house you live in, below is just work space.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Sunday morning, as I walked the dogs along the boulevard
of Sofar, I stumbled upon an open gate. That does not happen often in Sofar.
The entire village, in the old days a popular summer resort, connected by
railroad to both Beirut and the Beqaa Valley, is either shot to pieces, or seems to have
been bought up by Gulf Arabs. In particular one Kuwaiti family, the Kharafis.
The entire row of Sursock villas, overlooking the Lamartine valley, belong to
the sons of <a href="http://yalibnan.com/2011/04/19/kuwaits-nasser-al-kharafi-dies-at-67/"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration-line: none;">Nasser
Kharifi</span></a>, who died some 6 years ago. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHgGaDBmfv536suzvw0BWajduev8aHjKpmq4g033h4lUoKwe5-7EqPDc18ajJytIaLNq7E1iPybBZf_RgwqVPNX8c0csmr7-rmgEXUGCS43x40wV0w0XpQW94EYdHORPWQFYMu8A/s1600/IMG_0934.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1267" data-original-width="1600" height="506" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHgGaDBmfv536suzvw0BWajduev8aHjKpmq4g033h4lUoKwe5-7EqPDc18ajJytIaLNq7E1iPybBZf_RgwqVPNX8c0csmr7-rmgEXUGCS43x40wV0w0XpQW94EYdHORPWQFYMu8A/s640/IMG_0934.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Quite spectacular view. Need to get some windows back in there.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">With the current situation, I
have doubts that any of them is ever going to visit their home any time soon.
That row of villas from the thirties and forties, with red tiled roofs resting
on wooden rafters, have all been restored, a little too ostentatiously for my
taste, but there is one on the side that probably was evacuated in the late
seventies, never to be inhabited again. And that house is waiting for me to win
the lottery.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I walk here quite often, and the gate, usually closed,
was open last Sunday. So I am taking you on a tour of the old Lebanon, when Beirut
was – for a short while – the Paris of the Middle East.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyP1EKbWOqZP1J8MNx7R68U6VZnc-q6yhgvUe3dsGh0x027VVORF3AF1z2eWYBSBzokmR3PaeT34hpVqsmXy-ruJbLRyEVemdT-aJ061vqE_8VepE3hQTOOyTI9lRvT8VNnIILRg/s1600/IMG_1029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyP1EKbWOqZP1J8MNx7R68U6VZnc-q6yhgvUe3dsGh0x027VVORF3AF1z2eWYBSBzokmR3PaeT34hpVqsmXy-ruJbLRyEVemdT-aJ061vqE_8VepE3hQTOOyTI9lRvT8VNnIILRg/s640/IMG_1029.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This would be the library. I will have a fire place installed.<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The 3 floor house – quite a demure dwelling from the
outside - is built on two different levels. The main entrance is on the first
floor, whereas at the back of the house, the service entrance is one floor
lower. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The house obviously was built with a staff in mind. The
kitchen is on the bottom floor, together with storage rooms, the ‘chaudière’,
and some small bedrooms with tiny and basic bathrooms.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Clearly the lady of the house was not into
cooking, because on the first floor, there is the living and dining room, and
what I think may have been the den, with a very tiny little kitchen, more like
a pantry.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPesYvgFJca0icsNb2_2hzqNNhQCH_Xmq8EJiu9tq_5X-bt4-h4Tkl5ae1yMgQXdlPsVyygf-qV0QSRkYwXOEqqoJOnnS7r6FzlXdR9ZWrSYNksE9vzlp6unbk7tycs_hJLskvtA/s1600/IMG_1041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1192" data-original-width="1600" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPesYvgFJca0icsNb2_2hzqNNhQCH_Xmq8EJiu9tq_5X-bt4-h4Tkl5ae1yMgQXdlPsVyygf-qV0QSRkYwXOEqqoJOnnS7r6FzlXdR9ZWrSYNksE9vzlp6unbk7tycs_hJLskvtA/s640/IMG_1041.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I think I will even keep the original bathrooms. They are fantastic! Just some scrubbing is needed.<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">There are two large bedrooms, each with walk in closets,
and wonderfully fancy bathrooms. You can see from the shape of the bath tubs,
that these were not simple build-in tubs, but nicely shaped ones. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The second floor has more bedrooms under the slanted
wooden roof, all with their own bathrooms. The windows are made of wood, and so
are the banisters. The doors, unfortunately, all have disappeared.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPa6AeDQGoSZpXS1aJ3zpmIHvjc0lgk0AnPe8H1zNb2BG8Wr429ZQH7mUCHzSnXxwfqoysy_hDo-kTApH7Ieuq2itUAaMR007BGjGvu1u6W-MnNhWbhI7ItJubxv5YLt8j16q18g/s1600/IMG_1028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1249" data-original-width="1600" height="498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPa6AeDQGoSZpXS1aJ3zpmIHvjc0lgk0AnPe8H1zNb2BG8Wr429ZQH7mUCHzSnXxwfqoysy_hDo-kTApH7Ieuq2itUAaMR007BGjGvu1u6W-MnNhWbhI7ItJubxv5YLt8j16q18g/s640/IMG_1028.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love the wooden windows.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The house, or should I say, my house, has obviously never
been occupied by the Syrian army, who practically occupied just about everything
up on that ridge there, because it still has the original mirrors, tubs,
toilets and sinks. I have seen houses in Bois de Boulogne, for instance, way up
above Bikfaya, that had been totally gutted, from the wall tiles to the wall
sockets, even the copper pipes in the walls had been ‘extracted’. This one is
pretty intact, apart from the doors. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuKL9uSDctvYNfJJsdfwWJFTvYwcABbmvjzp6Cd4eaRlQmhp9-an14pEcFWthwUpG4cq9kI2ysMShQwz7KGFr6tfR4vxRan2jaZEZEYCOP7ADoYHCY8ycjSUMSqAwMnWVg0Gd8rA/s1600/IMG_1024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuKL9uSDctvYNfJJsdfwWJFTvYwcABbmvjzp6Cd4eaRlQmhp9-an14pEcFWthwUpG4cq9kI2ysMShQwz7KGFr6tfR4vxRan2jaZEZEYCOP7ADoYHCY8ycjSUMSqAwMnWVg0Gd8rA/s640/IMG_1024.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And the trees and the grass. I will have to buy a lawn mower. But maybe I get a donkey, he will keep it short too. Although he might end up decimating my vegetable garden as well. As yo can see, this project needs some planning. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">It needs minor constructural repairs, but other than
that, it is all about redecorating the place. Okay, maybe we need to work on
that kitchen, because there is no way on Earth I am dragging dinner from down
to the first floor on a daily basis and back again. Heating the place will cost
a pretty penny, from the looks of the massive ‘chaudieres’ that are in place everywhere,
but hey, when I win the lottery, that will not be an issue.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfO2gTohyJEfnn6H8VPSjA-PtecSmlci1Lpk7LQMDi8zMHRsxUm2sUI4Gcoxnqi8iR0VNbIcVLRw0u2kfGeVswSn6VPfwNTmGRyIhYcvutjT-YD2WP-xIt3fpFcAUjE73Xc5PQAA/s1600/IMG_1026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfO2gTohyJEfnn6H8VPSjA-PtecSmlci1Lpk7LQMDi8zMHRsxUm2sUI4Gcoxnqi8iR0VNbIcVLRw0u2kfGeVswSn6VPfwNTmGRyIhYcvutjT-YD2WP-xIt3fpFcAUjE73Xc5PQAA/s640/IMG_1026.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's got a garage as well.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The grounds are fantastic as well. It has a fountain, and
massive cedar trees all around, which need some trimming. There is a garage for
the cars. My dogs will be able to roam freely, although I am not sure how that
will go with the chickens and the peacocks I intend to keep as well. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Anyway,
these are all details. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Right now I am working on that winning lottery ticket. And then I need to find the owner of that house way up in Sofar.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr1lPsJQbpwIAfQQh1MGzTBZvj3ABaJW7WXqW5GSxejjAXOlRjMSMvXsPSPaOKogiwAm9b0yvDUjKhR12Asdh910350q5IH_h5Fn941PHxaaVrty847nUJvTO6dPWxYTUSGkcaCQ/s1600/IMG_0959.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="907" data-original-width="1600" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr1lPsJQbpwIAfQQh1MGzTBZvj3ABaJW7WXqW5GSxejjAXOlRjMSMvXsPSPaOKogiwAm9b0yvDUjKhR12Asdh910350q5IH_h5Fn941PHxaaVrty847nUJvTO6dPWxYTUSGkcaCQ/s640/IMG_0959.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The house from the side. You can see the bottom floor as well here.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
Sietskehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12063618922778363385noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11791864.post-60205165061174076532017-11-06T17:33:00.000+01:002017-11-06T17:33:01.069+01:00More Road Trippin’<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvltQD-ag8gZrzAyoekc9wAJ251OCQ_FfVcqmgCXGB4pxy9VQ7kwKQX3UsmTRLk2O1rsmLR9ENap50cyC2hTRCEOaL6xdCFQUVp-110EcYwGU1bUZMc1c8XcUU-JX4E3ELcSDUow/s1600/IMG_0304.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvltQD-ag8gZrzAyoekc9wAJ251OCQ_FfVcqmgCXGB4pxy9VQ7kwKQX3UsmTRLk2O1rsmLR9ENap50cyC2hTRCEOaL6xdCFQUVp-110EcYwGU1bUZMc1c8XcUU-JX4E3ELcSDUow/s640/IMG_0304.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The little alley ways of the Saida Souq</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Saturday, I took my father to visit </span><a href="http://sietske-in-beiroet.blogspot.com/2015/10/the-olive-harvest.html" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: blue;">a
friend down south in Kfar Tibnit</span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">. She was still busy with trimming the
olive trees, and so on our way we decided to stop at the old souq in Saida,
which is probably the only souq in the country that is still authentic and
working. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The little alley ways have been paved not that long ago, and some of
the alleys have been obviously restored, but the previous owners and business
did not have to make place for fancy shops and business. You can’t enter with a
car, and everything has to be brought in by handcar, or little electric scooters.
Trades are still organized by quarters. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuEkpTET80icCSEpFQOTi-6nuUyChOahNGSVIxP8R6Cew0DvVufB_TMDwZ62X8OtPnIvKh-A9OSS0CZgf9p2RSILanxYf1Fgj8TieK4R0Br-i6gpylyqAobT8egvqOZStgQkaYXA/s1600/IMG_0305.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuEkpTET80icCSEpFQOTi-6nuUyChOahNGSVIxP8R6Cew0DvVufB_TMDwZ62X8OtPnIvKh-A9OSS0CZgf9p2RSILanxYf1Fgj8TieK4R0Br-i6gpylyqAobT8egvqOZStgQkaYXA/s640/IMG_0305.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">You’ve got the gold souq, the vegetable
souq, there are alleys where all the woodworkers and carpenters are clustered,
the upholstery guys are in one street together, the mattress makers and blanket
sellers in another, there are the spice sellers, the butchers, the head scarves
and bra sellers, and in between you have your pastry shops and bakeries, the
mosques and the schools, and in between that, you have tiny little alleys and
stair cases that lead to even tinier little court yards and houses; a veritable
labyrinth. Hollywood could film an entire series on the middle ages here without ever having to change a thing of the scenery.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd7_-Uxqqq3w512Af8ad60v1_M85r2Vtx2h2kTLM4B4ygKVynDqOpp_yJRMj6WtmR8QkFc09snUiWKMGeKZBUYZzhtaKT2lKkKY9pC1dK-ljH8NlviLXlJYpvPjAH5oFty_7LWGg/s1600/IMG_0298.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd7_-Uxqqq3w512Af8ad60v1_M85r2Vtx2h2kTLM4B4ygKVynDqOpp_yJRMj6WtmR8QkFc09snUiWKMGeKZBUYZzhtaKT2lKkKY9pC1dK-ljH8NlviLXlJYpvPjAH5oFty_7LWGg/s640/IMG_0298.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Remove the wires and the blue bin, and you are in 1455 AD</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">After that, we spent the afternoon in Kfar Tibnit. When the evening was approaching,
it was time to go home. As I had gotten stuck in a nasty traffic jam in Sidon,
and I do not like take the same road twice, I wondered if I could go from Kfar
Tibnit straight to the small mountain village in the Shouf where we were
sleeping that night. Google Maps showed that this was very well possible.
Granted, it would take some time (2:19 minutes), but we were not in a hurry.
And armed with Google maps, we went on our way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW1fhyphenhyphen0Fkwi_oqoD2gdobvrRZZex6eWNZGYksRNLBWxp5x6CoN-UDBnWzNgPqW7P3QqLOgm8bQ77UtWR8n_QVasih3VkSFwiUPA8dQGErGocITzCWp-0DNyeyAO0NAY13xcYMSSg/s1600/IMG_0302.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW1fhyphenhyphen0Fkwi_oqoD2gdobvrRZZex6eWNZGYksRNLBWxp5x6CoN-UDBnWzNgPqW7P3QqLOgm8bQ77UtWR8n_QVasih3VkSFwiUPA8dQGErGocITzCWp-0DNyeyAO0NAY13xcYMSSg/s640/IMG_0302.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bait shop. No idea how this guy is going to get something from the back of his shop</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">But the night fell quite rapidly, Google maps kept
shifting its path from one road to another, seemingly unsure of what road it should
take, and for some strange reason, there seemed to be a massive black-out in
the entire region; not one silly street light worked. Or maybe there weren’t
any.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Traffic became sparser and sparser, while road
constructions seemed to be on the rise. Entire stretches of tarmac just dissipated
as we drove along. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Every now and then I consulted Google maps again, but the app had change to night vision mode, and in black, the map of Lebanon
looked quite unfamiliar to me. I tried to get on the road alongside the Qaroun
Lake, because once there, I know how to get home, but it seemed a lot easier
than it was in reality in the pitch dark. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV2rqaXOZpfNsruXx-94BwXMb8K7ocR1eMKUa0LxhAQyQeuYLArGWi2Ng0InT-aYqUtRplqXzA00siVbz2-BmTa5ZIvukGy_f1Zv8uO73yFGwegMcPwPtQJ6KLvWvnDuEVeEeyaQ/s1600/IMG_0309.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1587" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV2rqaXOZpfNsruXx-94BwXMb8K7ocR1eMKUa0LxhAQyQeuYLArGWi2Ng0InT-aYqUtRplqXzA00siVbz2-BmTa5ZIvukGy_f1Zv8uO73yFGwegMcPwPtQJ6KLvWvnDuEVeEeyaQ/s640/IMG_0309.JPG" width="634" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coffee on its way</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Somewhere, I knew, I had to go to the right, otherwise I’d
end up in the mountains of Jezzine, and then it would be tiny little hairpin roads
for hours and hours. And so when Google
maps suddenly indicates that I should turn right, off the main road into a
rather narrow wooded road, but into the Beqaa Valley, I thought that be a good
idea.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">And so here we drive, along this tiny little road, and
not a village, house or light in sight. It’s a good thing my father doesn’t see
too well; he’s 102 and has only one eye. I do not see much either, for that
matter. I am constantly driving with big lights, blinding anyone coming from the opposite direction, but no one is coming from the opposite direction. We are clearly the only ones. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">But I do see the flags in drums suddenly appear on both
sides of the road. The logo of Hezbollah, even in the dark, is like that of
Coca Cola; recognizable even when only partly visible. And then a large metal
barrier, with a young man in front of it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">A road block, but not an army one. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">No gun, but the baseball cap
and that <span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://rangersurplus.com/image/cache/catalog/products/clothing/military/n3b,back-500x500.PNG"><span style="color: blue;">typical
blue parka</span></a> </span>are an open book: I have stumbled upon a gate with a Hezbollah
guard in front of it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm_AJZO_TKq_zecBzz0qrCJBLJzxNlRo2tJIgjpKF9gvwbFrlv8rFjkkFKZmLzIiR3gYuwAANVUaC88veDsRmjXlL2FJRiBAK9FHgoQhbm-Hnb1W58PugpSkZVPrL0KZ_9blmklg/s1600/IMG_0299.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm_AJZO_TKq_zecBzz0qrCJBLJzxNlRo2tJIgjpKF9gvwbFrlv8rFjkkFKZmLzIiR3gYuwAANVUaC88veDsRmjXlL2FJRiBAK9FHgoQhbm-Hnb1W58PugpSkZVPrL0KZ_9blmklg/s640/IMG_0299.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More medieval scenes. The should organize some Air BNB's here. "Sleep in an authetic souq."</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In the middle of nowhere, in the dark, on an unmarked
road, with a phone in my hand. Uhhh. How
is this going to look? Hezbollah guards are notoriously suspicious, even when
you have a credible story. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Saad Harriri just resigned blaming Hezbollah and the
Iranians for threatening his life, and here are two foreigners in the middle of
nowhere, in the dark, at some sort of Hezbollah base, claiming to be driving to a little obscure town in the
Shouf which is like very very far away, while using Google maps. No Lebanese
would ever be doing this. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy3Qd1QmIsUzaURBqB9mDqY233z7f8Vb9Ov6l6C9zfdJTsYlrFx3CZdzh9cbT2MYaTQkf49bPi1Fa4Eijs5hdO2FiThx0fJA3kJZz13jQ5IcGNqoAnK_JjHzya7NdUhdIFq__xHA/s1600/IMG_0300.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy3Qd1QmIsUzaURBqB9mDqY233z7f8Vb9Ov6l6C9zfdJTsYlrFx3CZdzh9cbT2MYaTQkf49bPi1Fa4Eijs5hdO2FiThx0fJA3kJZz13jQ5IcGNqoAnK_JjHzya7NdUhdIFq__xHA/s640/IMG_0300.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Where are you going?”</span></i></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i></i></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><i>“Well, that way,</i>” I point to the barrier, showing the road on my phone.</i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i>“But where do you need to go?</i>”</div>
</i></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Naming the little town to where I intend to drive is not
going to help much; he probably never heard of it. So I try “<i>Shtoura</i>”. Not
quite where I need to be, but it’s on the way. ”<i>And my map says I need to drive
here.</i>”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“<i>Yes</i>,” he replies, and then pauses for while, “<i>But this
road is closed</i>.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“<i>So how do I get to Shtoura?</i>”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>“You need to go back to the main road, and then to the
right. Ask at the army check point down the road</i>.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Yes, about that army check point. <br />You see, I am not
really supposed to drive through this region with a foreigner (my dad) without
permission from the army headquarters in Saida. Not sure why, but that’s the
rule. I sort of had banked on the fact that in the dark, the soldiers don’t really
check who is in the car, they just wave you through, so I am sure as heck not
going to stop at that check point and ask for directions.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim4uvLaf_ShyphenhyphenVOY3nh6NgriL-3up-w9s7d-41wjrRCwlKqNYVWB9_RgzqN3rB4lwUktTw_msNdZMAUtbp7AiXGNvp_EAk9kkPKqzF9AD52e9nE_ms4dgWrIEQQWGN5mCkT1XENWg/s1600/IMG_0291.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1295" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim4uvLaf_ShyphenhyphenVOY3nh6NgriL-3up-w9s7d-41wjrRCwlKqNYVWB9_RgzqN3rB4lwUktTw_msNdZMAUtbp7AiXGNvp_EAk9kkPKqzF9AD52e9nE_ms4dgWrIEQQWGN5mCkT1XENWg/s640/IMG_0291.JPG" width="518" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Anyway. Like a good little obedient citizen, I, very nicely and very meekly, turn quietly around, go back on the
main road, do not ask for directions at the army check point, and decide to just go along with the hairpin mountain roads. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">When we do get home, some three hours later, my father says, "<i>Wonderful trip.</i>” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<o:p></o:p></div>
Sietskehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12063618922778363385noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11791864.post-62438777045741626412017-11-04T08:55:00.001+01:002017-11-04T08:55:02.463+01:00On the Road<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK2AdgyeDIsWAgPh8-XQyDM01DVA4SYk0FrfPiqP8fER85kqy6VxM047Vhz9MNtOYP6HagfscUXGzpLRFeAJfkrfx5P3TqkAEPI4yBlCLa6sFM9Be4zECH9_xpECdfQ89Mel90-w/s1600/IMG_0068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK2AdgyeDIsWAgPh8-XQyDM01DVA4SYk0FrfPiqP8fER85kqy6VxM047Vhz9MNtOYP6HagfscUXGzpLRFeAJfkrfx5P3TqkAEPI4yBlCLa6sFM9Be4zECH9_xpECdfQ89Mel90-w/s640/IMG_0068.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Willows in rows</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My dad is in town again. For those that read me
regularly, yes, he is 102 now. And going strong. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It’s a family thing. His older brother died last year,
and a few of his siblings have made it into their nineties. He does not believe
in afternoon naps and he likes to go road tripping. The curvier the roads, the
happier he gets. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf14nwIrWi12boKZMhmF-SnqhwinR4V_xmZWfCBPoo8MzuOp-MTloK6koNvC5afGNldgk18CIAcJl8az1hBvNXIJqloW-yLnsTubIhpHMUi92QeRDaCHtS7ZiK6WjU3xtaleB07Q/s1600/IMG_0072.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1065" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf14nwIrWi12boKZMhmF-SnqhwinR4V_xmZWfCBPoo8MzuOp-MTloK6koNvC5afGNldgk18CIAcJl8az1hBvNXIJqloW-yLnsTubIhpHMUi92QeRDaCHtS7ZiK6WjU3xtaleB07Q/s640/IMG_0072.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A little bench to contemplate life on</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He walks about 5 kilometers a day back home in Holland,
but here he has had to adapt; he doesn’t get beyond 3 km. He’s got a type of <a href="https://www.google.com.lb/search?q=rollator&spell=1&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwis1vX7jpbXAhXoK8AKHSohAJYQvwUIIygA&biw=1366&bih=637"><span style="color: blue;">walker</span></a>
which helps him with his stability when he walks, but he complains about the
sidewalks here in town. He wanted to walk from my house to the Corniche, but
the pavement is so irregular, that he ended up carrying his stroller most of
the way. I think all the ‘walkers’ in Beirut can relate to that. A stroll
through Beirut is more like an obstacle course. Yesterday we walked from Dar in Wardieh
(beginning of Hamra) all the way to Caracas (end of Hamra). And that was after
he had been walking for about 3 hours on his own. He tells me that when he was
young (twenties) he’d bike home for the weekend, and that was some 150 kilometers one way. I
took him to the Tanaayel Monastery in the Beqaa Valley over the weekend, because
he likes cows and farms, and the walking is smooth there. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLzw_lYX5e1kQUls-G3FVULRZz2DZV_tuYlShT4f6ipxfXz7OHZxn55Hp0bkBe3_McUS_RLS02oY-HLl4a2M7XtMjosVQ4rL4i24uZHnSA3UhUMIlWvz1q2xXhVNX5DHMHORE7kQ/s1600/IMG_0075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1003" data-original-width="1600" height="401" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLzw_lYX5e1kQUls-G3FVULRZz2DZV_tuYlShT4f6ipxfXz7OHZxn55Hp0bkBe3_McUS_RLS02oY-HLl4a2M7XtMjosVQ4rL4i24uZHnSA3UhUMIlWvz1q2xXhVNX5DHMHORE7kQ/s640/IMG_0075.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The duck pond</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I’ve written before about the monastery, but because I
doubt any of you remember, I am going to unceremoniously cut and paste that
bit.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Taanayel, a Jesuit Monastery with farmland and a small lake, is
right along the road to Damascus, halfway between Beirut to Damascus. The land,
some 200 hectares, was given to the Jesuit fathers in 1860 by Napoleon III.
Originally it was a swamp (nice guy, this Napoleon, handing out crummy land for
free), but the monks, with their proverbial patience of a monk (That’s a saying
in Dutch; ‘<i>monnikengeduld</i>’), transformed the area into agricultural land. They
established a large farm, a school, a seminary and a church.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOuEkSjPqzRHmSHKKi7HQqY2SRoqA82khhBxQsywIeve8vQLvu6ecsSCYVkgIdMRHrBggBLxJCvW09LK_YWoSC_aPD-THAe8DJS2ltev2G6VcLxGLEoDVkZhvYe6U6ZCouztoerA/s1600/IMG_0053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1253" data-original-width="1600" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOuEkSjPqzRHmSHKKi7HQqY2SRoqA82khhBxQsywIeve8vQLvu6ecsSCYVkgIdMRHrBggBLxJCvW09LK_YWoSC_aPD-THAe8DJS2ltev2G6VcLxGLEoDVkZhvYe6U6ZCouztoerA/s640/IMG_0053.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It is nice to walk there, because the way it is set up is very
European, and thus feels like home. The Jesuit monks planted poplars and
willows, and dug irrigation ditches to help dry the marsh lands. Everything is
in neat rows, and with little tree-lined lanes in between the fields and the
orchards and the vines.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">These days they have some 75 milk cows and a herd of goats. They
produce milk and cheese, and cultivate wine, nuts and honey as well. The
farm also serves as a teaching facility for the Faculty of Agriculture at the
Saint Joseph University in Beirut. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgFRTTrw6MiYHGtDHPy2d13QoVo70mfMX1jYd7pLfYollfH4lO8hRygWz57_nwiB13q3OIrOMi0ySG5SpN8w5MbLVL0YIO1QciEpX76_NVWw9TPsqiZoXRrd47VmAe7n_Skk3jNA/s1600/IMG_0080.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1209" data-original-width="1600" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgFRTTrw6MiYHGtDHPy2d13QoVo70mfMX1jYd7pLfYollfH4lO8hRygWz57_nwiB13q3OIrOMi0ySG5SpN8w5MbLVL0YIO1QciEpX76_NVWw9TPsqiZoXRrd47VmAe7n_Skk3jNA/s640/IMG_0080.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting ready to feed the cows</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 115%;">There is an interesting story about how these Jesuits ended up
with the land. Apparently, in 1857, they discovered that the Bekaa Valley is an
ideal place for growing grapes and producing wine. Business was good, but
somewhere at the end of the 19th century, a number of French priests were
killed. The Ottomans, the rulers at that time, did not any problems with
France, so they compensated for the death of the priests and offered the
Taanayel property. (</span><a href="http://www.marcopolis.net/lebanese-wine-2.htm?Itemid=146"><span style="line-height: 115%;">source</span></a><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 115%;">)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglfJKG5P5yyCTQRg0gyHcWwTv8n_yO0sf4E12sQd2qQvg7qdgiFHVtCikwWvXDBFh20ordmOea6UefKSfdMIdJTwmM8D5viHaXkJdPJo9gNUYL1EKCoz47h_VCHXIrfhzJhQ_JSQ/s1600/IMG_0077.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="906" data-original-width="1600" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglfJKG5P5yyCTQRg0gyHcWwTv8n_yO0sf4E12sQd2qQvg7qdgiFHVtCikwWvXDBFh20ordmOea6UefKSfdMIdJTwmM8D5viHaXkJdPJo9gNUYL1EKCoz47h_VCHXIrfhzJhQ_JSQ/s640/IMG_0077.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The farm is still in Jesuit hands, and as such, nothing has
changed much in the lay-out of the land. No trees have been cut during the war,
no ugly buildings went up, and it was not used as garbage a dump. These Jesuits
are old school, and very much into the ecological side of agriculture. A Dutch
priest, Father Brouwers, was part of the agricultural team on the farm for a
long time.<o:p></o:p></span></span><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-sdWnz5mHmKi1Ne_m9Nu7SHCRzZsGJeEPvo7yuF2XZCvvDq9C8yqw1q6Ewe4M_bCb3EQ3feygRsHmvg_EBUKzCcYRU3JT5-MKPR1i1mKJq7WPy1aqhBlgnrLHis7Kl5SjJE07Vg/s1600/IMG_0071.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1205" data-original-width="1600" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-sdWnz5mHmKi1Ne_m9Nu7SHCRzZsGJeEPvo7yuF2XZCvvDq9C8yqw1q6Ewe4M_bCb3EQ3feygRsHmvg_EBUKzCcYRU3JT5-MKPR1i1mKJq7WPy1aqhBlgnrLHis7Kl5SjJE07Vg/s640/IMG_0071.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A field of Merlot grapes</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The farm has seen its fair share of sadness during the war. I
remember visiting them one December, and was told that over Christmas someone
had stolen the major bull. “</span><em style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">It’s probably
someone’s Christmas dinner now,”</em><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> said Father Brouwers, “</span><em style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">but I doubt it’s very tasty. The beast was old. Why would you want
to steal an old bull? It’s clear the thieves do not know much about the meat
business.”</em><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjTtbrJm-txpEH0db0E8WAlPFIG0f75HaWORAzHXB2ARfFqJHbrWd9kh2p5DUdXUUMK2GFE5dxoJMrIQ5e5HbhyphenhyphenqkyBwl0zIbuYVolXnBgeQd8sMAgbkTRZckYExaqiBg7bQFL6A/s1600/IMG_0076.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1198" data-original-width="1600" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjTtbrJm-txpEH0db0E8WAlPFIG0f75HaWORAzHXB2ARfFqJHbrWd9kh2p5DUdXUUMK2GFE5dxoJMrIQ5e5HbhyphenhyphenqkyBwl0zIbuYVolXnBgeQd8sMAgbkTRZckYExaqiBg7bQFL6A/s640/IMG_0076.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 115%;">Another year they got stuck up with a small trainings camp of
young Palestinians which the PLO had set up on the domain. There was nothing
they could do about it. It wasn’t anything really serious, more like a Boy
Scout venture, but the Israelis didn’t want any of it, and </span><a href="http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-23391998.html"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: blue;">dropped an airplane bomb
on the 4 some ram shackle tents which housed the boys</span></span></a><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 115%;">. This saddened the priest greatly. “<em>They
were just young boys; it wasn’t worth an airplane bomb.</em>” An even
sadder event was when another Dutch Jesuit priest from Taanayel, Father
Kluiters, was shot twice, hanged and impaled during the war, in 1985. He’d been
in Lebanon since 1974. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZMA0ZtO16mWE3hY8sLYAcHy2fZJDGvGatRZVls0EJamHqwDWg9KxTnApcsAgRAmY9IeyDG3FYi3EScWfC7L8IqQmbCR1YVeZVNLYKDB-4r0GnspL8m1Ae6QyaKEjRO2eP5JinaA/s1600/IMG_0064.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1144" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZMA0ZtO16mWE3hY8sLYAcHy2fZJDGvGatRZVls0EJamHqwDWg9KxTnApcsAgRAmY9IeyDG3FYi3EScWfC7L8IqQmbCR1YVeZVNLYKDB-4r0GnspL8m1Ae6QyaKEjRO2eP5JinaA/s640/IMG_0064.JPG" width="457" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the road</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">These days are more joyful however, and the farm is open to
visitors. You can rent bikes on the farm (go through the gate, park your car
near the church and walk to the milk farm (laiterie), where they rent them in
the courtyard), and bike all around the farmland. If you are around the milk
installation around 4:30, you can see them milk the cows.</span></div>
Sietskehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12063618922778363385noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11791864.post-76384782393393009552017-10-22T07:41:00.000+01:002017-10-22T07:44:31.965+01:00Heading Home<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRkTPO1UhVOFH3b8C2YBe2Df2R-X-fcL1SCeCzIF1NeWpsI6C14XoXVCW-3jTL8zx91OIZ4WmBQopuiYh9wC43Gspbpp-7M0FeqR3X8Pv2e5JX49jvuKac_zhDc3xFefgPE03wRw/s1600/IMG_9315.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRkTPO1UhVOFH3b8C2YBe2Df2R-X-fcL1SCeCzIF1NeWpsI6C14XoXVCW-3jTL8zx91OIZ4WmBQopuiYh9wC43Gspbpp-7M0FeqR3X8Pv2e5JX49jvuKac_zhDc3xFefgPE03wRw/s640/IMG_9315.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A lovely couple, somewhere in their sixties (?), on their way, or maybe coming from, to what seems to be a social occasion.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Now that it is finally starting to cool off in town (some
three weeks later than normal), Beirut is slowly becoming more pleasant. It is ‘walkable’
again. For people is cooler climates, who have never been in Beirut, this may
sounds incomprehensible, but this town is practically ‘unwalkable’ in summer.
Unwalkable in the sense that it is so hot and humid, that the place resembles a
green house. Just walking to the post office or the supermarket becomes a feat,
and you basically feel like taking a shower and changing all your clothes after
every errant into town.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE1srTE_d74l6xPFJSIZOXPgKy7WltorRDvgulx0kQF8o3CA9HykqqdixE3RHTAuyUKSDKEQYUUs7OTvB3fdFb_5gKO6YtHPjnJf_5X-_tc2D5oP0NWjPEjLQbJhEfxD9cXfzzMw/s1600/IMG_9319.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE1srTE_d74l6xPFJSIZOXPgKy7WltorRDvgulx0kQF8o3CA9HykqqdixE3RHTAuyUKSDKEQYUUs7OTvB3fdFb_5gKO6YtHPjnJf_5X-_tc2D5oP0NWjPEjLQbJhEfxD9cXfzzMw/s640/IMG_9319.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Four colorful ladies (my guess Syrian as their dress is a little too colorful/uncoordinated /conservative for the neighborhood) on their way home.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">But now it is (almost) pleasant again. Two more weeks and it
will be perfect. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">On Friday evenings, after work, I gather with a few friends somewhere
in Beirut for drinks, as we discuss current events, our experiences that week
or reflect on life in general. We’ve been doing this for almost 15 years now, I
believe, if not longer. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUkOiyX8RYXNlPwhF1WrSLSk1LZUe8_z4K1W0FZjW66cSvVnMvaRkC7sPxWdi8ye04E2ZhCCUw9OuwkjljKHpyCr7mS-OhYrQ5gVZGHxQHMbm8d_I0F4x8tufpgtAl1qDp4ltb4Q/s1600/IMG_9317.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUkOiyX8RYXNlPwhF1WrSLSk1LZUe8_z4K1W0FZjW66cSvVnMvaRkC7sPxWdi8ye04E2ZhCCUw9OuwkjljKHpyCr7mS-OhYrQ5gVZGHxQHMbm8d_I0F4x8tufpgtAl1qDp4ltb4Q/s640/IMG_9317.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two ladies on their way from the gym (and the supermarket)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I cannot remember when we started with it, but apart
from the summer hiatus, it’s a regular thing. Our partners and kids even know
that this time is pretty much non-negotiable for family events. When they plan
something, it’d be like “Oh no we can’t, it’s Friday and you’re with your
friends.” There’s thousands of those inspirational quotes floating around the
web, imploring the importance of a few good friends above wealth, a career and
whatever else there’s to be had in the world, and it is quite true. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmhHaCvG_lU_ryWH4NzKU7Jn_1P7a7fX_yK5vpo53j7I30mk8k9lhNotVj8vnUM9s-dyH27n8XAYJpSmZwshM42ZoA44XhReDRRc2egn0OwLO5VLISrDU2x2TLqkHxNP8Isu2pbA/s1600/IMG_9320.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1265" data-original-width="1265" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmhHaCvG_lU_ryWH4NzKU7Jn_1P7a7fX_yK5vpo53j7I30mk8k9lhNotVj8vnUM9s-dyH27n8XAYJpSmZwshM42ZoA44XhReDRRc2egn0OwLO5VLISrDU2x2TLqkHxNP8Isu2pbA/s640/IMG_9320.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On their way from work, obviously.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">And after our gathering, we split, each going her way. I
usually walk back home, through town, and Beirut at dusk is at its loveliest. The
temperature is cool, the light is soft and demure, and the people are all heading
home (I am always reminded of this Christmas song, with goes ‘<a href="http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?lyrics=12352"><span style="color: blue;">As the shoppers rush
home with their treasures</span></a>’.) , or to some other place to gather with family
or friends. It’s this medieval feeling, of people getting back to the town,
draw bridge goes up, gates close, and we’re safe and snug tight for the night. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRnWMxFzZ7Ghyphenhyphen3ByZ-C7TW5GInDmKANoklwmR8zd_Q37EBjb7p9ZhtgQIBDs7Lg_v73n9QPFR7mguCAYK2jjo8CM8tJZU8B_O77QnM0LsZ8itSA50ae1grlpB7NlZ9jp7e1otwjg/s1600/IMG_8579.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1209" data-original-width="1208" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRnWMxFzZ7Ghyphenhyphen3ByZ-C7TW5GInDmKANoklwmR8zd_Q37EBjb7p9ZhtgQIBDs7Lg_v73n9QPFR7mguCAYK2jjo8CM8tJZU8B_O77QnM0LsZ8itSA50ae1grlpB7NlZ9jp7e1otwjg/s640/IMG_8579.JPG" width="638" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here are your <i>'shoppers heading home with their treasures</i>' What I found so endearing is that the two gentlemen on the right (in blue turbans, so not Lebanese. My guess either migrant workers from Asia, or Unifil soldiers on leave from the south) re holding hands. In Europe this wold have a different connotations. Here it's just friends.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">As I was walking, I saw all these lovely people in front
of me, and felt like a regular <a href="https://www.google.com.lb/search?tbm=isch&q=vivian+maier+street+photography&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjq_I3dy4PXAhXD2BoKHR7PDm0QhyYIIg"><span style="color: blue;">Vivian
Maier</span></a>, and kept taking pictures. It’s been like two years since I have
actually held a real camera; my phone does the job quite well. So here you are, some scenes from Beirut on a
Friday at dusk. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">And my apogees for the over-processed images. You can't see too well on a small phone screen.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQo02O0i4JtbwzHsoGrxdp6T_vA23Dx7_G3F3qbSyZAMmbM99-iZop7krW8IhNEJiRxVSbj0wTVkdBf3oRo7IB2wYZyw7UYxV3pya55qHiG5xWh5b7KC4rnqFwDv92x5cpLkoX4w/s1600/IMG_9316.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQo02O0i4JtbwzHsoGrxdp6T_vA23Dx7_G3F3qbSyZAMmbM99-iZop7krW8IhNEJiRxVSbj0wTVkdBf3oRo7IB2wYZyw7UYxV3pya55qHiG5xWh5b7KC4rnqFwDv92x5cpLkoX4w/s640/IMG_9316.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These guys are obviously not going home yet. Your male version of the 'sitat el-Ashrafiyeh'</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
Sietskehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12063618922778363385noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11791864.post-82790043724150776022017-10-15T18:40:00.002+01:002017-10-15T18:40:27.459+01:00Embrace Change (of Seasons)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKK836Cfcq3BiqiDfvgTOQB40pT5kl-P8kFTNCaFDHhOY039qWNU0YuYC55iYer4mnu3XF5xrJNvCp4filcQK_PsnWZ4MJXa91Kp77c6aM9SUmQUKMrj_-Wzdttdi7wK3ANG1RQA/s1600/IMG_9440.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKK836Cfcq3BiqiDfvgTOQB40pT5kl-P8kFTNCaFDHhOY039qWNU0YuYC55iYer4mnu3XF5xrJNvCp4filcQK_PsnWZ4MJXa91Kp77c6aM9SUmQUKMrj_-Wzdttdi7wK3ANG1RQA/s640/IMG_9440.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">While Beirut is still hot and balmy, fall has definitely set
in in the mountains above Beirut. The Virginia creeper color the walls red, and
although the parasol pines will stay green all winter, the others trees are
slowly turning yellowish. Not exactly an Indian summer, but still quite lovely.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I like fall, but then I like the beginning of every season.
I think I embrace the change. The sun rises later (winter time is not until the
end of this month), the mist hangs a little longer in the valley in the
mornings, it is cooler, and the dust washes away. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzt46fL__U5fsQBy9MM0VgYh67MoC0nPGYd_i6-FLmLHl7Ccmd8YWZb6QEMOwSHv4w4eWgw8Bsg9q6dYLrnBg5O7sUClKSEzQFMvrZY88mRkNsKCYGGpOmX5dIHr25gP7wtPNUOA/s1600/IMG_9438.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="955" data-original-width="1600" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzt46fL__U5fsQBy9MM0VgYh67MoC0nPGYd_i6-FLmLHl7Ccmd8YWZb6QEMOwSHv4w4eWgw8Bsg9q6dYLrnBg5O7sUClKSEzQFMvrZY88mRkNsKCYGGpOmX5dIHr25gP7wtPNUOA/s640/IMG_9438.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> My tortoises in the
mountains feels the change too. They are getting ready for their hibernation.
They get out in the early morning sun, and place themselves sideways against
the wall, like <a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3365/3510899760_23a6b44d27.jpg?v=0"><span style="color: blue;">Russian
grandmothers</span></a> catching much needed sun in the long Siberian winter. By 12 they’re back in their den, and you will
not see them anymore the rest for the day. Not much longer, and they will stay
in until March. They’ve had a productive year; 24 baby tortoises. Next year I
will have to think of some type of ‘into the wild’ program for them, to re-populate
the neighborhood.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis6HU4GiWfq9fjsMFCMtONrg5O2BK3DaCy4B_Xkybch9XLD_D8apWpxaSlRn0BSLsVfbaYJ2rsvkxPFr2jTUcEy1DTVYHvVf7NKSVgP9vI75HUlgQbI8EeexKr-2gVNoBmAMtinA/s1600/IMG_9433.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis6HU4GiWfq9fjsMFCMtONrg5O2BK3DaCy4B_Xkybch9XLD_D8apWpxaSlRn0BSLsVfbaYJ2rsvkxPFr2jTUcEy1DTVYHvVf7NKSVgP9vI75HUlgQbI8EeexKr-2gVNoBmAMtinA/s640/IMG_9433.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And so for Sunday morning’s hike, I walked straight out of
the back door and into the forest. Usually it is way too hot to hike there, and
dry. For good hikes, you need to go up higher into the mountain. But yesterday
night it rained hard and long, and this morning everything was clean and fresh.
The plan was to hike to my cemetery, but I got side tracked and ended up
somewhere else interesting.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtrmPB-3eUAa8Zo_HX7R_1rtY7mXVJL3WCCj1ov84WTmTkxNfi7csXqtG8HCY_u-D4RaGWpj-H5bAwU0Ubmk44VI5cSBcPAzOm_kXBC0AoGBEgA4hBvbnbxxPvqDIf_Y_oOeTKww/s1600/IMG_9435.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtrmPB-3eUAa8Zo_HX7R_1rtY7mXVJL3WCCj1ov84WTmTkxNfi7csXqtG8HCY_u-D4RaGWpj-H5bAwU0Ubmk44VI5cSBcPAzOm_kXBC0AoGBEgA4hBvbnbxxPvqDIf_Y_oOeTKww/s640/IMG_9435.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I took those strange stairs down. Someone, a long time ago,
went to great length to build this very long stair case in the middle of the
forest. It starts at an old and long abandoned villa, and descends into the
village in the valley, but not quite. There’s still a stretch where you have to
work your way through the brush and thorns.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQfBL5ycin7d8-3t2Nf5nJ5PGjMRXrE55oh9tj4OX8QJXJJTtftPYaKvlFflxYEAuc_4W1aUh9BhNhY7y49ssM-nmRVqLYtLyV_v9O7Pc2rHn7ZvgI25Mfgog-a1lUty4xDUAQtw/s1600/IMG_9430.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQfBL5ycin7d8-3t2Nf5nJ5PGjMRXrE55oh9tj4OX8QJXJJTtftPYaKvlFflxYEAuc_4W1aUh9BhNhY7y49ssM-nmRVqLYtLyV_v9O7Pc2rHn7ZvgI25Mfgog-a1lUty4xDUAQtw/s640/IMG_9430.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The house used to belong to a doctor, but he died, and so
did his wife. His children do not live in Lebanon anymore, except for one,
somewhere in Beirut, and no one has the money, or the desire, to rebuild this
monumental place. The stairs remain, but I may never find out why they were
built. I do use them though, when I climb down into the village below.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnDJQaSINVlrvBNbEpBzmfuDUC9lIEsMTOSz66HVPeD8S2HwQDp93d0uTlekzYgXh32Bh0cypEZsifPt0fuzqM-B16Z1tn5cST_X34abx1OmEvq4nMULVYyA0oMUCnV2ttJpJY3Q/s1600/IMG_9436.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnDJQaSINVlrvBNbEpBzmfuDUC9lIEsMTOSz66HVPeD8S2HwQDp93d0uTlekzYgXh32Bh0cypEZsifPt0fuzqM-B16Z1tn5cST_X34abx1OmEvq4nMULVYyA0oMUCnV2ttJpJY3Q/s640/IMG_9436.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Out of the door and into the forest. What a luxury. The
forest was lovely and quiet. And so I share some pictures with you of my walk.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
Sietskehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12063618922778363385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11791864.post-61544602080169554612017-10-08T19:33:00.000+01:002017-10-08T19:33:31.928+01:00The State of Arabic<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL5bLHTFB97UujzMAVQbzGIptCeHL_Ckpxp09HLP0AgjBq5JIeC8BRtFS95z7KwXEV3hg0KJD-CA56JHpKdEnGOxbhz1FJiuH7EziGNB2BHZ9xlqhXiRTg7MseSq4QRG88M5m0yg/s1600/IMG_9106.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="978" data-original-width="1600" height="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL5bLHTFB97UujzMAVQbzGIptCeHL_Ckpxp09HLP0AgjBq5JIeC8BRtFS95z7KwXEV3hg0KJD-CA56JHpKdEnGOxbhz1FJiuH7EziGNB2BHZ9xlqhXiRTg7MseSq4QRG88M5m0yg/s640/IMG_9106.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I walked into a little street I had never walked before and right away, treasures left and right</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">My daughter, like quite a few of her classmates, hardly
ever speaks Arabic. The home environment is English, and outside with friends
or family, it is either English, or French. TV and radio is in English, books, the
Internet, sports activities and what else, all English here in our neighborhood,
and very little Arabic is ever spoken around her. It just shows how
cosmopolitan this town is. Or how pathetic the integration of my family is. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVNGF6qSZ1KJzMthoRdrYLrfu2ZdTZ5ap98pJA2GiTb7Pf3dv4a_pOQCBwIYLiqB2833TjLVh3HLqnMFOpJb46vHBnRsesBVgEDNkgGh37kz1vGhSNW0gzhczMUHoAfvtRgSDLfw/s1600/IMG_9107.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1026" data-original-width="1600" height="410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVNGF6qSZ1KJzMthoRdrYLrfu2ZdTZ5ap98pJA2GiTb7Pf3dv4a_pOQCBwIYLiqB2833TjLVh3HLqnMFOpJb46vHBnRsesBVgEDNkgGh37kz1vGhSNW0gzhczMUHoAfvtRgSDLfw/s640/IMG_9107.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Anyway, as a result, the classical Arabic taught at school,
pretty much Chinese to even Arabic speaking students, has held little interest for
my daughter. Combined with the fact that the program is not the most modern in
the world, and parents (that be us) that
do not really emphasize or help out her with her studies, we now have a child that can
read Arabic, but has no clue as to what she is reading. It is literally Chinese to her. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoC-3mB99vLERvXcLs5XhFn3q4CP3tFqoLD2aA1GO79-mYjEp8Ijp3AkGpWOHzyLyUJg1thiXW38N_ghiWfYnUutBMaAoxcVpTZ6VsLHkgc3rf7OPbrdSBgkaMPQ3kWwuhteECKw/s1600/IMG_9109.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1466" data-original-width="1600" height="586" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoC-3mB99vLERvXcLs5XhFn3q4CP3tFqoLD2aA1GO79-mYjEp8Ijp3AkGpWOHzyLyUJg1thiXW38N_ghiWfYnUutBMaAoxcVpTZ6VsLHkgc3rf7OPbrdSBgkaMPQ3kWwuhteECKw/s640/IMG_9109.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Since this year is the official exam year for the Arabic
Brevet, I have to move her officially out of the Arabic program and into the
American program. Apparently it is something I was supposed to do when she
entered school, but apparently I had not done this, according to her school. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I was pretty sure I HAD done this, but it turned out this
was for my son. So I will have to do this again. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmOQcHbpKYRBfeFHvc8dHpGZaBMMiKV0Il5YoFeyL71hdGbEJhCq2ud-ysWRNklIPVFIYWUGjTZIR2NuFKB_5Yz6ffHIRBwzCW-11n6-pWLgyt_A0tJ7bEp7ZyLRVZnxAi9j0p-g/s1600/IMG_9108.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1278" data-original-width="1600" height="510" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmOQcHbpKYRBfeFHvc8dHpGZaBMMiKV0Il5YoFeyL71hdGbEJhCq2ud-ysWRNklIPVFIYWUGjTZIR2NuFKB_5Yz6ffHIRBwzCW-11n6-pWLgyt_A0tJ7bEp7ZyLRVZnxAi9j0p-g/s640/IMG_9108.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Railroad tracks in the middle of town</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In order to accomplish this, I have a number of papers
that I need to submit to the Ministry of Education. Exactly what I need, is not
quite clear, because the<span style="color: blue;"> <a href="http://www.mehe.gov.lb/"><span style="color: blue;">English button</span></a></span>
on the homepage of the ministry does not work. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">This does not altogether surprise me, as I have <a href="http://sietske-in-beiroet.blogspot.com/2011/04/could-you-cc-me-on-that.html"><span style="color: blue;">quite
a lot of experience with the workings of this particular ministry</span></a>. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I asked
around, and a friend supplied me with <a href="http://www.mehe.gov.lb/equiv/english/page/foreign-curriculum.html"><span style="color: blue;">another
link</span></a> of this ministry, which you cannot find on the home page itself. On
this page is a link to ‘documents needed’, but when you click on it, <a href="http://www.mehe.gov.lb/equiv/needed_docs.php"><span style="color: blue;">you get this</span></a>, so that
speaks for itself.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Anyway, I asked around, and I thought I had pretty much everything
I needed to make this a one-time trip in order to organize the paperwork. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">So, this morning, all prepared and ready, I drove to the
ministry of Higher Education.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">And then they were closed. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSN11KW4o4mApItzxVvRq9w53Bcu5bU8LK0GGvDyI0EibBRdXO47XceXkzmhMwO3JtaEDqD_i6ZUdNeN5-VfLGKH1kl5Bp-cDfh4B4GBqgtuw3lB4ix1cSk570IK_JuW7Iwz3Vyw/s1600/IMG_9105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1088" data-original-width="1600" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSN11KW4o4mApItzxVvRq9w53Bcu5bU8LK0GGvDyI0EibBRdXO47XceXkzmhMwO3JtaEDqD_i6ZUdNeN5-VfLGKH1kl5Bp-cDfh4B4GBqgtuw3lB4ix1cSk570IK_JuW7Iwz3Vyw/s640/IMG_9105.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Arabic language lessons</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It seems they do not work on Saturdays anymore. They work Mondays to Fridays, 8:30 to 3:30. Which is when I am working too. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The saga will have to be continued at a later date. </span></div>
Sietskehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12063618922778363385noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11791864.post-28954722370601769922017-10-02T19:16:00.002+01:002017-10-02T19:16:56.083+01:00Fatigued<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF6DuI0UK_UnLZh-PxtceWvaBv6Hosc4ITZ2arcJlNlENd7lpaKHFWAoLIFIOAw_Y6-w2-hyOnRlrJLIt4pdfGTjytv_E0QdSpzHM9niGMjXxRWXR8xNsuKZglcDe2bAt-jINevg/s1600/IMG_8169.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="648" data-original-width="1600" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF6DuI0UK_UnLZh-PxtceWvaBv6Hosc4ITZ2arcJlNlENd7lpaKHFWAoLIFIOAw_Y6-w2-hyOnRlrJLIt4pdfGTjytv_E0QdSpzHM9niGMjXxRWXR8xNsuKZglcDe2bAt-jINevg/s640/IMG_8169.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some dog walkers up in Dahr el-Baidar</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">“</span><i style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Aren’t you off today</i><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">?” asks the old aunt in my
house as I was about to leave last week.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">What? Is it Sunday? I could have sworn it was Monday, I am thinking.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“<i>No, there is a strike. Everything is closed</i>.”</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2uEQwveRvEUsHeKQ4nhMqGFi2b14KzWtGxs61Fbyi7g-R8P7AR9iWuYrEDxmjsy55hT7tOVP510fsQwTfTlbstVkt6aRzo6vdOCarToA7i3fqRR2_Q_cYpuP6NtsxIdWJzrTB4A/s1600/IMG_8966.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="723" data-original-width="1600" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2uEQwveRvEUsHeKQ4nhMqGFi2b14KzWtGxs61Fbyi7g-R8P7AR9iWuYrEDxmjsy55hT7tOVP510fsQwTfTlbstVkt6aRzo6vdOCarToA7i3fqRR2_Q_cYpuP6NtsxIdWJzrTB4A/s640/IMG_8966.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">6:37 AM in the mountains</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">How I got to be from a journalist who was subscribed to
just about every news service in town to a person who hasn’t watched the news
in over two weeks is slightly befuddling. But there it is. I seriously haven’t
read a newspaper or watched the news in over two weeks. What I pick up from the
news is when Facebook friends start sharing ‘I am safe’ messages.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I have an employer who does not believe in strikes, and
so off to work I was. I don’t even know what the strike was for. I am
politically fatigued.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIBa8Orn4kIYdF5P5X39oBQGvVF8clf6Td2Ywhsv7us23-9XQrlRavYgxX3sW4MNDL_OB6L5fAP7laC9gHCC55d2RfbZ9IDMpUYafnrlIpl4QaRc0cQwHMHb1W9QDhC12KfRVgLQ/s1600/IMG_8736.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIBa8Orn4kIYdF5P5X39oBQGvVF8clf6Td2Ywhsv7us23-9XQrlRavYgxX3sW4MNDL_OB6L5fAP7laC9gHCC55d2RfbZ9IDMpUYafnrlIpl4QaRc0cQwHMHb1W9QDhC12KfRVgLQ/s640/IMG_8736.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pine trees</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Back in journalism school I was taught that every society
and civilization goes through cycles, and that it is not realistic to assume
that once a society is on a high, it will remain like that. What goes up,
must come down, according</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> to my professor. Change is inevitable and continuous. And not always for the better. There were some philosophers he quoted, by I missed that bit of information. It is not the politicians that cause the mood of society, but they represent
the mood of the people. From what we’ve got in power these days around the
globe, I’d say I am not alone in this politically fatigued-mood.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcuXuBd83Wat5T5KlVdh61G3a4LoFP3BstRKP5JioPRbhXsWjkYUI5il-DnpclmIAnVSZ3os0HxbW5TURnqvCcEHW0L_tLhndsHi9C_SRk_vcrpIsjet1vmOnKarkyiTyfILzfWg/s1600/IMG_7641.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1026" data-original-width="1600" height="410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcuXuBd83Wat5T5KlVdh61G3a4LoFP3BstRKP5JioPRbhXsWjkYUI5il-DnpclmIAnVSZ3os0HxbW5TURnqvCcEHW0L_tLhndsHi9C_SRk_vcrpIsjet1vmOnKarkyiTyfILzfWg/s640/IMG_7641.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A view from something very old to something rather new</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I used to scour blogs for one political analysis after
the other. Bloggers would dissect the comments of politicians, put them in a
different light and provide background info that newspapers wouldn’t bother
with. But the blog sphere in Lebanon these days is taken over by fashionistas,
movie critics, restaurant reviewers and those that are plugging products for
freebees. There is one blogger that still actively promotes road trips through
Lebanon, but that’s about it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Everyone is politically fatigued. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgauhhLcNMOZ2oH1JugFP6TmVOy23F7slHI_NUHL69jAsw_pSZK7poUoQhANvSJJnLOierW4f4z_RnlASeZNriEaIKIkS1XQDuayzxp19eybNU3RwXwAfJVmHP_jbKd6LVg7raNsA/s1600/IMG_9006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgauhhLcNMOZ2oH1JugFP6TmVOy23F7slHI_NUHL69jAsw_pSZK7poUoQhANvSJJnLOierW4f4z_RnlASeZNriEaIKIkS1XQDuayzxp19eybNU3RwXwAfJVmHP_jbKd6LVg7raNsA/s640/IMG_9006.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An abandoned house</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Everybody I know is busy with surviving. Even the streets
are tired. My street used to be nice and clean, but the Sokleen guys no longer
sweep every morning. The influx of people into the neighborhood has led to more
garbage, but it does not get cleaned up anymore. At night, there are people
that spend time in the tiny space that used to be a little park, but no longer,
and now the park is slowly filling itself with carton boxed they use to sit on,
beer bottles and cigarette packs, and the hoses of the irrigation system got
disconnected, and now the plants are dying.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The whole town is fatigued.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_rLkgccuA8i-N2_zCpLBtm1Sg7seXeW4GcITl6ilk8LFM1Tf8flXhgvgndtDF0tjlOGPnJLfiMWxet4AiZENYTX_o7cmWcbyChOFqDTiDHFMiHZ004L3OFIN_Afv821k4Oh2U1A/s1600/IMG_8889.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_rLkgccuA8i-N2_zCpLBtm1Sg7seXeW4GcITl6ilk8LFM1Tf8flXhgvgndtDF0tjlOGPnJLfiMWxet4AiZENYTX_o7cmWcbyChOFqDTiDHFMiHZ004L3OFIN_Afv821k4Oh2U1A/s640/IMG_8889.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There is art in everything</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It is all cyclical, and I am sure there will be an
uplift, and it seems that currently we are riding the bottom of the wheel. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But it is all good, because I spent a lot of time outside
Beirut. I count my newborn turtles (I am at 20 right now and another 2
hatching), I go on long walks through the mountains with the dogs, I enjoy the
views, see friends now and then, and that’s about it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And this too, shall pass. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw9Q8XVqNbmVCHDOQZ-1XRx-Y_rZM1-GIHzp9KHPljSDAMnzXX0J0IqWB5l3Qu9XCJS-9B4NV7Ci81PjpgCZ8ZQGXLVpqDwu0LC_miWaCZXUvCqapqZ0Gw-r6pzx6Tv82s9eV-ww/s1600/IMG_8504.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw9Q8XVqNbmVCHDOQZ-1XRx-Y_rZM1-GIHzp9KHPljSDAMnzXX0J0IqWB5l3Qu9XCJS-9B4NV7Ci81PjpgCZ8ZQGXLVpqDwu0LC_miWaCZXUvCqapqZ0Gw-r6pzx6Tv82s9eV-ww/s640/IMG_8504.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
Sietskehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12063618922778363385noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11791864.post-57619848790288214522017-09-19T18:42:00.001+01:002017-09-19T18:42:38.047+01:00Turtles in Action<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYcXSWawc-kfrVH-sBiNGZJ8N9oqlNjUEKysyPrj3RNwO_SAqcOwXG_bKyXoj2UP40DxTV_umxxpUfxb1kd5XH8S4UbGPE61uzMaR-t-dJvapqUfQ_KwvsI5jIn2ElXOUM4groAA/s1600/IMG_8259.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYcXSWawc-kfrVH-sBiNGZJ8N9oqlNjUEKysyPrj3RNwO_SAqcOwXG_bKyXoj2UP40DxTV_umxxpUfxb1kd5XH8S4UbGPE61uzMaR-t-dJvapqUfQ_KwvsI5jIn2ElXOUM4groAA/s640/IMG_8259.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Here is some good, but probably not very scientifically
supported, news. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We are a household with animals. Granted, a difficult task in
Beirut but we try our best. Both hubbie and I come from families that always
had animal(s) in the house, and so we pass this on. Dogs, cats, rabbits,
squirrels, hamsters, fish, birds, stick insects, you name it, we've had (or have) them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQr4YaRO04y2cL7-5khVCYq-8WgMMs-_8YpYHNFGspj2PvNvYzs6PezAKrgMclsFS9YGUnl-TAGncWF0ygoZ68fjp0YkRPmRX43hyphenhyphencFgP7j1-d_A5f1y4i0Za54cqK9UGYVbPOnQ/s1600/IMG_8260.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQr4YaRO04y2cL7-5khVCYq-8WgMMs-_8YpYHNFGspj2PvNvYzs6PezAKrgMclsFS9YGUnl-TAGncWF0ygoZ68fjp0YkRPmRX43hyphenhyphencFgP7j1-d_A5f1y4i0Za54cqK9UGYVbPOnQ/s640/IMG_8260.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">As a comparison; this is how big they are going to get</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And for a strange reason, we seem to come into a lot of
land turtles (tortoises). My daughter once got one for a birthday, and when
that news got around, everyone with a turtle seemed to somehow feel free to
dump theirs off at our house. It was either as a gift, or they were travelling
for the summer, or moving out of the country, but whatever the reason, we got
more and more turtles. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So many in fact, that it was no longer feasible to keep
them in Beirut. We created a type of enclosure at our mountain house, where
they (by now some 9 turtles) could roam freely. This news attracted even more
turtles, and somehow we ended up with 18!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It must be a Dutch thing, because a Dutch friend of mine,
way down south in Nabatiyah, has some 40+ turtles in her garden. She has a
large olive orchard, and every year, when they plow in between the trees, she
walks in front of the tractor, and picks up all the tortoises that’s she sees,
otherwise they will plow right over them, and places them in the back yard
where they are safe. One summer, she got
a white permanent marker, and started numbering them. She was at 40-something,
when the first rain of the fall brought an end to that project; the permanent
marker turned out not to be that permanent.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">These land turtles, called Mediterranean Spur Thighed
Tortoise, or Greek Tortoises ( <em><span style="font-style: normal;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spur-thighed_tortoise"><span style="color: blue;">Testudo graeca</span></a></span></em>) and indigenous to the region and – according
to the <a href="http://cms.iucn.org/about"><span style="color: blue;">IUCN</span></a>, the International Union
for Nature and Conservation –their population borders on the <a href="http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/21646/1"><span style="color: blue;">vulnerable</span></a> (which is one
step before endangered). Not surprising, as a massive building spur the past 30
years had decimated their habitat drastically.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjscDHDaCVqCmW-RBS5mgH-S2uJzw7ieHJL3UPlU9xFUtK0K0_w3kYky4q_OauTxB01TyGwnuNJK3ZPTWzai68vjdWlrc4t5tBeQMhWkkz1M-ZJ4HYjgdrAb7f14mCJJ3q_B6v9hA/s1600/IMG_8261.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjscDHDaCVqCmW-RBS5mgH-S2uJzw7ieHJL3UPlU9xFUtK0K0_w3kYky4q_OauTxB01TyGwnuNJK3ZPTWzai68vjdWlrc4t5tBeQMhWkkz1M-ZJ4HYjgdrAb7f14mCJJ3q_B6v9hA/s640/IMG_8261.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But my 18 turtles have been very busy this year. They have
been mating like crazy. Females can lay between 3 to 5 eggs, and although I have
no idea how many females there are, I have seen at least two turtles laying
eggs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And they are hatching. Last week, 7 puny little turtles
suddenly were roaming around the garden, and I know of at least one stash that
should be hatching this month as well. Pretty soon I will be having so many
turtles that I can start repopulating the neighborhood with turtles again, and get them out of the vulnerable zone.</span></div>
Sietskehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12063618922778363385noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11791864.post-90691304116471843342017-09-16T17:05:00.000+01:002017-09-16T17:05:03.722+01:00Perspective<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0m9S7cRqLoZvZsvXBasDX0xbcAsE3GLKnM0aiFCGcZo5PplQOrRutDtniQIAiT_p9HAiF6voGCl31DDlLln5BvnY2N4ZkLKQzyRusS6mBeT5mLKOXKXQPz9S95y1rJFLMgFYP7A/s1600/IMG_7895.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="854" data-original-width="1600" height="339" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0m9S7cRqLoZvZsvXBasDX0xbcAsE3GLKnM0aiFCGcZo5PplQOrRutDtniQIAiT_p9HAiF6voGCl31DDlLln5BvnY2N4ZkLKQzyRusS6mBeT5mLKOXKXQPz9S95y1rJFLMgFYP7A/s640/IMG_7895.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We start with a run through Rouche rock. The light at 5 is still stark<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The heat just won’t abate. The AC’s are still running
full force IN MY HOUSE, but they can barely blow a dent into the humidity, even
at night. We don’t have 24/7 electricity, some 20 AFTER the civil war, I tell
you, in Syria they have more electricity than we do, go figure. The government
does not provide water around the clock either. I’ve got to buy extra water and
electricity, so I’ve got a double amenity bill. We’ve got a one million plus
Syrian refugees in the country that can barely deal with its own people, the
roads are perpetually clogged, it’s always noisy and crowded and getting from
one part of town to another is such a feat, most people don’t even attempt it
anymore. Well, at least I don’t.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqTxn820n8lTcm2Hk-llQbx7JUJfKyRG3owo7o5dpBImZzJqkvI_ICh58eJV5Cj5lKq7jcE77x7huuWHUxaWb4oRicKNvQozuVMqZjaDLPzefTIeon7GNs8asXt8r-6EpGyhTwAg/s1600/IMG_7897.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="761" data-original-width="1600" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqTxn820n8lTcm2Hk-llQbx7JUJfKyRG3owo7o5dpBImZzJqkvI_ICh58eJV5Cj5lKq7jcE77x7huuWHUxaWb4oRicKNvQozuVMqZjaDLPzefTIeon7GNs8asXt8r-6EpGyhTwAg/s640/IMG_7897.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fishing boats in the heart of town</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">And then there is the heat!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Did I mention the heat already? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I secretly envy friends in Holland that
report 16 degrees Celcius. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipwZs8kYJcpamDF4ItfP9yFROxjm_oTGYRTxmEvuJF4vjxEauXw17oPSp9vtLbtCGhyeSxItizGqL7LjhIdOgpzf-aDyP9p8J8DHkPXWgi2OoytfmJ3A0EHxMQ8K3ZH6BayAROsQ/s1600/IMG_7954.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipwZs8kYJcpamDF4ItfP9yFROxjm_oTGYRTxmEvuJF4vjxEauXw17oPSp9vtLbtCGhyeSxItizGqL7LjhIdOgpzf-aDyP9p8J8DHkPXWgi2OoytfmJ3A0EHxMQ8K3ZH6BayAROsQ/s640/IMG_7954.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's all high-rise along the coast until . . . </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUFxxirHqjlu2YSYTXrB-W5q1muqTG9XuHopGWxv9IEL8Gxplpl_uu5_ChMN0Y4vjHdKFt49baSfvzk1E6owInqBhTKvFEqFcjGH6K53ySljjtblyyzx4PazJoLEvKtV9Corzt-Q/s1600/IMG_7963.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="536" data-original-width="1600" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUFxxirHqjlu2YSYTXrB-W5q1muqTG9XuHopGWxv9IEL8Gxplpl_uu5_ChMN0Y4vjHdKFt49baSfvzk1E6owInqBhTKvFEqFcjGH6K53ySljjtblyyzx4PazJoLEvKtV9Corzt-Q/s640/IMG_7963.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">. . . you get to the suburbs. These once were beaches, back n the 70's. Now they house refugees from an era well before the Syrians. Kurds and Palestinians that fled from Tell el Zaatar initially settled here. Now it is a mix of all. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLNDC5X83j15nUB5QepN7B1jcnc-AbJVR9Z_dzzS_qcyUQQZfaocYG-ONvG3_gBZjdoUsmcUX5Q2lklZv7g52DG3ZyXYf7BVkRDTurXj8uiW17Z-7Z-0fgrFfe5T-GuunDjSegtA/s1600/IMG_7986.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="539" data-original-width="1600" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLNDC5X83j15nUB5QepN7B1jcnc-AbJVR9Z_dzzS_qcyUQQZfaocYG-ONvG3_gBZjdoUsmcUX5Q2lklZv7g52DG3ZyXYf7BVkRDTurXj8uiW17Z-7Z-0fgrFfe5T-GuunDjSegtA/s640/IMG_7986.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These inhabitants, near Beirut Airport, tired of the same old stuff, added some color to their houses.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">And then. . .</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">after a long day at work, I get a message if I feel like going out at sea. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
Do I feel like going on a boat, out at sea?</div>
<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Are you kidding?</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
I already hailed a service to get me to the port.</div>
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixtgcC6qiIcdEoCbeN0Uihb8BALZdv8_wIQMHrwvm284n3TMtv0h7Julx3QLSZ_dLUG6BGzuCEgutd3Z-Q02y0eGu1MjiY0HuMZpZKghoFMKeWojS86tbBsbLyJKWsLnT7HejmIA/s1600/IMG_8029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="653" data-original-width="1600" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixtgcC6qiIcdEoCbeN0Uihb8BALZdv8_wIQMHrwvm284n3TMtv0h7Julx3QLSZ_dLUG6BGzuCEgutd3Z-Q02y0eGu1MjiY0HuMZpZKghoFMKeWojS86tbBsbLyJKWsLnT7HejmIA/s640/IMG_8029.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some jet skiers come check us out</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">And at sea it is quiet and empty and cool. There is a
breeze, and nothing pollutes my horizon, except for small fishing boats.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And I sail along the coast, cast in a soft purple haze, drive
under Rouche rock, skinny dip and watch the sun set in the sea. When I sail
back into port, dusk has set in, and the lights of the boulevards and buildings
make this place all romantic and glamorous again. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjagYGpIw_Kj8BhfOis0sWVG3A5auQwXMOByporoErCc1ZzUgQBH5VUjH04az2BVhBUgrRro51j-dG7BY-wDE2zfzvxxon72cTGa7q2oJekMmdwS-nxlv2Q3fh3u3ko3yjbcb2b8Q/s1600/IMG_8030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="819" data-original-width="1600" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjagYGpIw_Kj8BhfOis0sWVG3A5auQwXMOByporoErCc1ZzUgQBH5VUjH04az2BVhBUgrRro51j-dG7BY-wDE2zfzvxxon72cTGa7q2oJekMmdwS-nxlv2Q3fh3u3ko3yjbcb2b8Q/s640/IMG_8030.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">skinny dipping (got to hold on to the buoy so the boat does not float away without us)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGb6IoWAjQj3V3g_mdmdbXhpCtfa3Z3TGyBOk_oF7jpNa4a7bnX770WKqloWBQJx4KH-xHWNObCcVPhwGCJAehD-sLzwRR-Gz2ZJ24Kcr5GX50wIrvpLapHDaSgkdq74IZEpvUAg/s1600/IMG_8105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1208" data-original-width="1600" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGb6IoWAjQj3V3g_mdmdbXhpCtfa3Z3TGyBOk_oF7jpNa4a7bnX770WKqloWBQJx4KH-xHWNObCcVPhwGCJAehD-sLzwRR-Gz2ZJ24Kcr5GX50wIrvpLapHDaSgkdq74IZEpvUAg/s640/IMG_8105.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Purple haze</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_zbXQhJsE9X6nO98srZ54liQYdh9MtEAhnFHWm16pC-MDsRQnSiQz8uzQvuqUYRLueugOxDo2VDt_ffjpJ9FD-Oq8_IdazqQRlkBXDda_e_zygrILOWzYqiNvDIudKdKgY3vhPg/s1600/IMG_8088.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="729" data-original-width="1600" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_zbXQhJsE9X6nO98srZ54liQYdh9MtEAhnFHWm16pC-MDsRQnSiQz8uzQvuqUYRLueugOxDo2VDt_ffjpJ9FD-Oq8_IdazqQRlkBXDda_e_zygrILOWzYqiNvDIudKdKgY3vhPg/s640/IMG_8088.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dusk sets in</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTmoxVmfGFldHuf3v5cSaztwwlIJrArJiwh3WsAEHq7t8vb7fiIBkUjCQYXPOpSW5kwXPStW4E_zUvl1QmTirWLR2C_Trr6DTT6pAb98C0qz1wnAHpSu3v6ufOAPCbexaqGAp9uQ/s1600/IMG_8107.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1188" data-original-width="1600" height="474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTmoxVmfGFldHuf3v5cSaztwwlIJrArJiwh3WsAEHq7t8vb7fiIBkUjCQYXPOpSW5kwXPStW4E_zUvl1QmTirWLR2C_Trr6DTT6pAb98C0qz1wnAHpSu3v6ufOAPCbexaqGAp9uQ/s640/IMG_8107.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sun set</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-align: justify;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-align: justify;">And then . . . .</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">when you see Beirut in a different light, it all changes. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I kind of like this place again.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">It's all about </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">perspective.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEp3ThvNEw7_WxluAfY1z5DILhK2zwP0MCXO1aXdH6Ei28lOoRYfNdhVzwaqSS7Ac7BQl73A5I3rVYutCOYAKi0iWDFostfjSTb0lVOfJttWg2FTjrwYlYbF8DkP0OLtwX9KCXPw/s1600/IMG_8092.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="841" data-original-width="1600" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEp3ThvNEw7_WxluAfY1z5DILhK2zwP0MCXO1aXdH6Ei28lOoRYfNdhVzwaqSS7Ac7BQl73A5I3rVYutCOYAKi0iWDFostfjSTb0lVOfJttWg2FTjrwYlYbF8DkP0OLtwX9KCXPw/s640/IMG_8092.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Back into the port</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK9vfhVReY0OjgkJjAOcysAe-DPI0tVWG2mXcQSjt0cdGc6UNOPncyllT-SuOrynEoVe0CVxZY2bjuqCPtkliVkMYTET-VABz5J7Ubmlx6oEknclVUHOMxwwcuLw4H8Iw1QxqrEg/s1600/IMG_8103.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1117" data-original-width="1600" height="446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK9vfhVReY0OjgkJjAOcysAe-DPI0tVWG2mXcQSjt0cdGc6UNOPncyllT-SuOrynEoVe0CVxZY2bjuqCPtkliVkMYTET-VABz5J7Ubmlx6oEknclVUHOMxwwcuLw4H8Iw1QxqrEg/s640/IMG_8103.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">and home we go. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">An interesting</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> read on Lebanon and perspective can be found </span><a href="http://foreignpolicy.com/2017/09/12/beirut-cosmopolitan-example-arab-world-middle-east-peace/" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">here</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">. The author is half Dutch, quite proud of that (and half Lebanese too) </span></span></div>
Sietskehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12063618922778363385noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11791864.post-3302200019701978722017-09-13T07:59:00.000+01:002017-09-13T07:59:11.454+01:00Ministry of Tourism & Tickets<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghFd8OogqhVA2ecEIrpXbtoKl92VMEuDxTwcLuMboHT_2R2k_8sjCOfT_fkI21SecVzkXedOcR-zjfbDKyql2nzYPfwHsobSRdMXcoR1omHclkqQnB1ijlKKkM4VLwrpuvoghSsg/s1600/IMG_6719.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="847" data-original-width="1600" height="338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghFd8OogqhVA2ecEIrpXbtoKl92VMEuDxTwcLuMboHT_2R2k_8sjCOfT_fkI21SecVzkXedOcR-zjfbDKyql2nzYPfwHsobSRdMXcoR1omHclkqQnB1ijlKKkM4VLwrpuvoghSsg/s640/IMG_6719.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">My son was in town with his girlfriend this summer, and as
she is a ‘newby’ to Lebanon, we had to do the touristic circuit. It doesn’t
bother me, I love getting on the road, and Baalbeck never fails to impress me. I
did notice something funny though.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Our first stop was at the temple of Niha. Niha is
probably my favorite, because every time I get there, I am the only one. It’s
like you have a private temple, all to yourself. And there are another two in
that neighborhood, further into the mountains, in rather poor state, that are
not even guarded. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> The man at the
entrance let us in. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>“It’s for free</i>,” he said. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">What? Is it a free day today? I asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>“No, we do not have tickets anymore.</i>”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He had run out of tickets. I kid you not. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And although I admire his honesty, how hard is it for a
Ministry of Tourism to get the guy some ticket booklets?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Very hard, it seems.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6tXptEKR0ErWIE53jUuu2fqXE69C9NJfeeeWX9-l0HqDSxuH2wcqRgHgDAcVzlptjD4uvR1U42Qi4ZHxydcRtURnAiZTNyy7IVGYYD4zi4coWgTaThfWMkNYILBkWFEFbH3HK0A/s1600/IMG_6781.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1207" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6tXptEKR0ErWIE53jUuu2fqXE69C9NJfeeeWX9-l0HqDSxuH2wcqRgHgDAcVzlptjD4uvR1U42Qi4ZHxydcRtURnAiZTNyy7IVGYYD4zi4coWgTaThfWMkNYILBkWFEFbH3HK0A/s640/IMG_6781.JPG" width="482" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Because the next stop was Baalbeck. This temple, which
would attract thousands and thousands of visitors a day if it were in a more
popular setting, such as Europe, asks and entrance fee of only 10,000 LBP (5,50 euros) for a
Lebanese and 15,000 LBP (about 8 euros) for foreigners. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But instead of 3, we got 7 tickets. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The confusion was
cleared up when the man explained, </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>“15,000 is 3 x 5,000, and 10,000 is 2 x
5,000. You see, the tickets of 10,000 and 15,000 are finished. I only have the
5,000 left.</i>” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Why you would have booklets of 5000 when the going rate
is 10,000 and 15,000 is another story. Besides, can’t they get a simple machine
that prints them on the spot? Is there are a reason why the admission process
needs to be as archaic as the temple itself?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And when we got to Anjar, world’s first shopping mall. There they had run out of tickets of 6,000
LBP, and so we got 2 of 3,000 LBP. Seriously now. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfG8NXmyp18DjIYTuY5O6pm9gyRPGTZ6nFLWsD3pi5Fb6H5Mh3cuDRv8fP5_bD_Z2uPVRtP-SYOPuLfWXrDwNorZh9GjSzexRsfieQS3CwyaHABcIXS-tVzKP7-FG68Co3oRh0_Q/s1600/IMG_6853.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="833" data-original-width="1600" height="332" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfG8NXmyp18DjIYTuY5O6pm9gyRPGTZ6nFLWsD3pi5Fb6H5Mh3cuDRv8fP5_bD_Z2uPVRtP-SYOPuLfWXrDwNorZh9GjSzexRsfieQS3CwyaHABcIXS-tVzKP7-FG68Co3oRh0_Q/s640/IMG_6853.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">It seems that while the world
is going forward, we’re not even standing still. We’re moving backwards
rapidly.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">There was a time when I had high hopes for this country. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
Sietskehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12063618922778363385noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11791864.post-32498393796403230082017-09-10T07:31:00.003+01:002017-09-10T07:31:34.780+01:00First Days of September<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiR6GkDiAx-7RAN_7WABzxa8i9YXYWXG0gAPP0te6AlP7YpMKvkXXlH_1ZgmapOeS-OrLGxldI5TK8R89tggK3XqZdkKJtj1mn4WKcxlXOJYf7WWiAsv8vG36HwvfQ5ChHrPpXkQ/s1600/IMG_6939.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="892" data-original-width="1600" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiR6GkDiAx-7RAN_7WABzxa8i9YXYWXG0gAPP0te6AlP7YpMKvkXXlH_1ZgmapOeS-OrLGxldI5TK8R89tggK3XqZdkKJtj1mn4WKcxlXOJYf7WWiAsv8vG36HwvfQ5ChHrPpXkQ/s640/IMG_6939.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A little dramatic editing, but so is the mood</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>September</b>. A magical month. The closure of the summer,
yet another summer (when you are my age, you start deploring the passing of
time), the first hints of fall.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">For those not familiar with Lebanon, you should visit
this place in fall. Preferably late fall. Best time of the year. The light, the
temperature, it’s all good.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Although the temperature is still not very cooperative at
the moment. It’s still awfully hot, and this week promises to be even hotter.
But hey, rather hot than in a hurricane. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The end of summer heralds departure. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My son and his girlfriend left at the end of August, back
to their universities abroad. They were not the only ones leaving. You<span style="color: blue;"> <a href="http://blogbaladi.com/chaos-at-beiruts-airport/"><span style="color: blue;">may have read</span></a> </span>people
needed some four hours at Beirut Airport to get to their gates; the lines were
massive (and chaotic, as usual). I have decided that from now on I will travel
by train or by boat. Being in Lebanon, I guess I am not going anywhere.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCLWs1UR-tDavKap1c4djGadjjLlcT-dYxzCXgz8NNQRy6VRjSGu9yRSSaAPnwzjIKHuy2vxXhdOuFBUcFmag-88nJvwoxMQbLf1DIdWt28OUSUPWzXIpJ9bay04bHoB_zSbhUeQ/s1600/IMG_6934-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCLWs1UR-tDavKap1c4djGadjjLlcT-dYxzCXgz8NNQRy6VRjSGu9yRSSaAPnwzjIKHuy2vxXhdOuFBUcFmag-88nJvwoxMQbLf1DIdWt28OUSUPWzXIpJ9bay04bHoB_zSbhUeQ/s640/IMG_6934-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I am now at the point where my parents once were; saying bye to their kids at airport parking lots. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The last teenager in my house started high school this
week. High school already? I remember I was taking the ‘first day of school’ picture
when she was 3! Still remember what she wore. Odd that I can remember that so
vividly, yet am clueless as to where I put my phone, my glasses and my car
keys.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Another 4 years and she will leave Lebanon for college. Then
I will have joined the legion of ‘childless’ parents who have to travel abroad
to visit their children. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Her school week was cut short due to an unscheduled day
of mourning after the remains of 9 soldiers, executed by Daesh (ISIS) back in
2014, were identified last week. A reminder that things are from from normal in this place, and probably never will be.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The nine were executed after just about
everyone involved in their release made one mistake after the other, and the
whole thing was basically bungled. So while on the one hand school children had
a field day, nine mothers had the worst day of their lives. Or probably just
another very bad day, among many others. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbDcGM8pBJ9pe6kk-i0c15Xx2qUakMTw9KC_Gn51wGEqcY5Mkdwe31QpbjrbQmdzXPDCOa-7sqspXDSnN0o-uLPQFEM4F9wDaM9Wz_vZT51kU72IZVYpusS0j8YIe8NfrTE1YykQ/s1600/IMG_7130.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1138" data-original-width="1600" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbDcGM8pBJ9pe6kk-i0c15Xx2qUakMTw9KC_Gn51wGEqcY5Mkdwe31QpbjrbQmdzXPDCOa-7sqspXDSnN0o-uLPQFEM4F9wDaM9Wz_vZT51kU72IZVYpusS0j8YIe8NfrTE1YykQ/s640/IMG_7130.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This one made me laugh; A piece of wood while paving the road? Just go right over it. It must have been there for quite some time.<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-MI3UAITlmCJe8LkUJ_Q1RTImybTfVQsZL4aFcSlRzJDijPq0Fj1xd5V30vFY0EcgypenfmDDr9oCtkoYUK2r-0t395R1MWDm5uC9E2k0VMOP2X_sAOsSoVaS49am3MlisKOxhg/s1600/IMG_7131.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="908" data-original-width="1600" height="363" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-MI3UAITlmCJe8LkUJ_Q1RTImybTfVQsZL4aFcSlRzJDijPq0Fj1xd5V30vFY0EcgypenfmDDr9oCtkoYUK2r-0t395R1MWDm5uC9E2k0VMOP2X_sAOsSoVaS49am3MlisKOxhg/s640/IMG_7131.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fits right in</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">It used to be that I was surrounded by kids every
weekend. They were young kids, the children of friends and family, and they
were young enough that they’d follow us in whatever we planned. Mountain hikes,
picnics on the beach, ski weekends, bike rides along the boulevard, you name
it, we came with kids in tow.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Trailing
kids, so to speak. Pretty soon, I can call myself a trailing parent.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Now that they’ve gotten older, they don’t buy into my
weekend plans anymore: they have more interesting things to do. To get my
daughter up to the mountains for the weekend, I have to do some serious bribing
and entertainment planning. Plans with friends involve fewer and fewer
children. I kind have forgotten how it was before our kids, but I guess I will
have to get the hang of it again. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Wow. September gets you in a reflective mood.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_j6qPvdpMH6QXyy3zWjJiqjy938fpm8iIg-RunZCHMxHNHWi6ZY4GzUZneppYrcvN-9c6Szp4it_B_rPKtwrLTp36vEiyKyvlJqbcObSw1adTk2goxyM4-TNp2JgalGd5tiAUxQ/s1600/IMG_6908.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_j6qPvdpMH6QXyy3zWjJiqjy938fpm8iIg-RunZCHMxHNHWi6ZY4GzUZneppYrcvN-9c6Szp4it_B_rPKtwrLTp36vEiyKyvlJqbcObSw1adTk2goxyM4-TNp2JgalGd5tiAUxQ/s640/IMG_6908.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">By the time it gets October, I’ll be back in a more
creative mood :) </span><o:p></o:p></div>
Sietskehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12063618922778363385noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11791864.post-34452481883813233802017-09-02T16:23:00.001+01:002017-09-03T11:18:13.828+01:00Counting Sheep<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAjodw6tJJhC0gUIl688dJcPl4RXfDzSK4OHvnR7GCWeHG93XHxb3Px3zwgk5bk9alj9_AiCzfmGH_NIrutgIQbmnKXKa4MUoMZlZjazKOSbmKGbZSBsxI6qBCV5DxwzVSjK_UMA/s1600/IMG_7183.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="957" data-original-width="1600" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAjodw6tJJhC0gUIl688dJcPl4RXfDzSK4OHvnR7GCWeHG93XHxb3Px3zwgk5bk9alj9_AiCzfmGH_NIrutgIQbmnKXKa4MUoMZlZjazKOSbmKGbZSBsxI6qBCV5DxwzVSjK_UMA/s640/IMG_7183.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The weather shows no sign of cooling off yet. Even up in the mountains it is still dry and hot.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I’ll have to get back in blogging mode. If not, this blog
will die a slow death.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It’s the Eid right now, Eid el-Adha, the biggest muslim
feast in Lebanon. It’s big, because the druze community celebrate this one as
well (unlike Eid el-Fitr, which takes place after the Ramadan, and which is
only celebrated by the muslims.) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">During this Feast of the Sacrifice, muslims celebrate the
fact that Abraham (Ibrahim) was willing to sacrifice his son Ismael for God.
It’s a little tricky, this story, because apparently God did not think he was
going to go through with it, but when Abraham actually went along with it, he
thought that maybe this was taking it a bit too far, and quickly replaced the
child for a goat. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">What can be learned from this story is unclear to me, but
the tradition is that during this feast you (if you are a muslim, that is) should
slaughter a goat. Or a sheep. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghs5WMaOujp8Oa_1MKHy1xGyop_iw5Ky2XxKmIdK_VhiIKo5azcgSPH_8TdeW4X1U-bMzreJhu9irPtekoqyDQoilFZ7miw60qZ3dC672e66gj4DejHutD5R6HlydttrioMkwuXw/s1600/IMG_6407.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="745" data-original-width="1600" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghs5WMaOujp8Oa_1MKHy1xGyop_iw5Ky2XxKmIdK_VhiIKo5azcgSPH_8TdeW4X1U-bMzreJhu9irPtekoqyDQoilFZ7miw60qZ3dC672e66gj4DejHutD5R6HlydttrioMkwuXw/s640/IMG_6407.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">And so around this time of year, you will find that sheep
vendors have set up shop around town or along main highways, so you can pick up
your sheep. <span style="color: blue;"><a href="https://www.ad.nl/buitenland/van-kruiwagen-tot-taxi-hoe-moslims-wereldwijd-hun-offerdier-vervoeren~a898c900/">A
Dutch newspaper even had a photo story on how these animals get transported</a>.
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Not everyone does this, of course, because in the old
days, when freezers and fridges did not exist, this could cause serious issues.
What do you do with all that meat? A solution was found; you only get to keep a
third. One third is supposed to be given to friends and family, and the last
third should be given to the poor. I am not sure how rigid people adhere to
these rules these days, but that’s the tradition.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">One of the neighbors in the village actually bought a
sheep. He must have a really big freezer, because he did not buy one, he bought
three! And these sheep were tied up last Thursday, at the door of his house,
awaiting their impending faith. They bleated through much of the night, but
when you are in a village in the mountains, you expect to hear nature. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDh6sguXDE-2zpvTH3p3FuIsdhjuxWV9PR13ZH4ahS-qadzkeBZ18ytTL4-huZ9G9fX0p48p7AhW1yQuq899t9whR-uMOeQbTCQLbdKOdRmbcQVY_2X1PbN1zzz6twGveVjJ7_hA/s1600/IMG_7182.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDh6sguXDE-2zpvTH3p3FuIsdhjuxWV9PR13ZH4ahS-qadzkeBZ18ytTL4-huZ9G9fX0p48p7AhW1yQuq899t9whR-uMOeQbTCQLbdKOdRmbcQVY_2X1PbN1zzz6twGveVjJ7_hA/s640/IMG_7182.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What can I say? They chase loose sheep.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">But somehow, during the night, and not liking what was in
store for them, two of them managed to escape. Sheep are not known for their
great intelligence, they do not wander off, so it was not a problem. The sheep
sort of ambled around, and were grazing near my house. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We were not aware of this, however, and so when hubbie
let out the dogs very early that morning, it was a field day for them. Loose
sheep in the paddock! They chase sheep for a living. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">And off they went. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">By the time we could get our dogs back in line, the two
sheep were nowhere to be seen. They had scattered in two different directions;
one uphill into the forest, the other one downhill into the valley. The dogs
barked a little at the one still attached, but as it was not running, there was
no fun in it, and they came back. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">When the neighbor came out, he looked at his one
remaining sheep. WTF? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Neighbors were quick to help out that our dogs had chased
the other two away. “<i>Where are my two sheep?”</i> he phoned.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Where are your sheep? Well, one is on top of the
mountain, and the other one is in the valley. I had to laugh at this. Seriously?
Ever tried to catch a loose sheep? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAKq4jzxk77bnKSB-hg6_wMqXbLkPZMEOFH8MzWoFfwx7hC1hhI8o2p01dIrQ5nj7vydfj7uCA_dh3GuGIiUIG2-0JfLEbGNDKd6STOHznu9nBLMqiZ13aYjpemgd7IDQr7t1GUw/s1600/IMG_7134.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="999" data-original-width="1600" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAKq4jzxk77bnKSB-hg6_wMqXbLkPZMEOFH8MzWoFfwx7hC1hhI8o2p01dIrQ5nj7vydfj7uCA_dh3GuGIiUIG2-0JfLEbGNDKd6STOHznu9nBLMqiZ13aYjpemgd7IDQr7t1GUw/s640/IMG_7134.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">When we got back from the dog walk, the janitor was
telling with great gusto how the neighbor had been running all the over the
hills and forests trying to get his sheep back. Sheep may be stupid, but they
don’t like to get caught. I have never heard this janitor crack so much as a
smile, and so I was much amused when he grinned “<i>Hahahaha, he’s still running
after the other one.” </i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Not much happening otherwise. We will descend down to
Beirut next week, as schools are about to starts. Summer is over.</span></div>
Sietskehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12063618922778363385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11791864.post-60637927263277441752017-08-29T20:26:00.001+01:002017-08-29T20:26:21.769+01:00Back in Beirut<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4CdWoWCjtMmkNRMKAv49yfVmHlZj5LAVKJo75ZdEXentKRVfTThIgpTxqGFwr0srPO-djPeiiMM6aP-cfAOGFURzSbb4XPGUtEcWM6Cpr7bmaSx881Y9y62lAGmupx9sVN-g5zw/s1600/unnamed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="968" data-original-width="1600" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4CdWoWCjtMmkNRMKAv49yfVmHlZj5LAVKJo75ZdEXentKRVfTThIgpTxqGFwr0srPO-djPeiiMM6aP-cfAOGFURzSbb4XPGUtEcWM6Cpr7bmaSx881Y9y62lAGmupx9sVN-g5zw/s640/unnamed.jpg" width="640" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Back in Beirut, and back in business. And I should be
writing as you are probably wondering whatever happened to me. Did she die? Did
she get a divorce? Did she leave the country forever?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">No, none of the above. I am still a faithful Beiruti, but
somehow, the older I get, the more stuff I have to do. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Did I shoot 2 <a href="https://bin.snmmd.nl/m/m1nyj80wpi9t.jpg"><span style="color: blue;">36-frame film rolls</span></a> in the
old days, these days I come home with some 3,000 pictures on my home, and I
have to work myself though every shot. Work started earlier, my son and his
girlfriend stayed over, the housekeeper left, and a million and other things
need my attention, so I am afraid I am not quite ready for a post yet. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But to
show some sign of life, here is a picture of one of the things I like the most
about Beirut: it’s light.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
Sietskehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12063618922778363385noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11791864.post-54385769701046975662017-06-19T07:14:00.001+01:002017-06-19T07:33:39.455+01:00Summer Cycles<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1600" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZH4Mf-VsAPB5N2ru-HNISKPDxHGSfUrgvWTPJNqKQnHDdUbewZND4GTP1G8BYJ4M8qbh0LJjaR4AlAt7K-qP_35ITCcHWpyrvEJzs_KP8zpfRdi6ch7y9eo-vShStnzZGJveFDg/s640/IMG_1391-001.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These are not your regular yellow dandelions, they're way bigger</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Summertime in Holland is pretty much like the rest of the
year. Sure, school is out and people go on holidays, but after the summer, you
see everyone back again, just where they left off. There isn’t much movement in
the country.</span></div>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju-h-sfhytGuSJWShNwAB5cAHPxalWWjtt9iYGoTTg1x8P17Wl9kQMCmvXlHNR6NfQ9wUL82In-8temv0ynEuYNNQ6AsjPdYuLbk0qD7zI8QzvuvtkJctD-S_xezo4ONlYFVMU4Q/s1600/IMG_1868.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="850" data-original-width="1600" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju-h-sfhytGuSJWShNwAB5cAHPxalWWjtt9iYGoTTg1x8P17Wl9kQMCmvXlHNR6NfQ9wUL82In-8temv0ynEuYNNQ6AsjPdYuLbk0qD7zI8QzvuvtkJctD-S_xezo4ONlYFVMU4Q/s640/IMG_1868.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Summertime in Lebanon is a different story. Summertime
sets an entire migration in motion. There are the families that move to the ‘house
in the mountains’, often the ancestral home, or one occupied by the
grandparents. There are the students abroad, who take a break from college to
spend the summer home, and then you have the Lebanese immigrants, who mass to their
families in the villages all over Lebanon. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf2f-9ZlfzI7s8feNPi5_PQOGH6g00L8Lqrgsfzh8fR7mgrkerKenfE7Zbn1IFVEM9uW1SLpnxCcqCiILHXSbf1vFy553AVVLlJOTPTBra4dAvnHGX-ARIMO_IogXyOJFgzCUndQ/s1600/IMG_2191.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="732" data-original-width="1600" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf2f-9ZlfzI7s8feNPi5_PQOGH6g00L8Lqrgsfzh8fR7mgrkerKenfE7Zbn1IFVEM9uW1SLpnxCcqCiILHXSbf1vFy553AVVLlJOTPTBra4dAvnHGX-ARIMO_IogXyOJFgzCUndQ/s640/IMG_2191.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">And as Lebanese are flying in, expats fly out. Summer is
when most companies and NGO’s - keeping school holidays in mind - make the
switch, and right now is the moment when they leave. We lose friends every
summer, and although we always promise each other to keep in touch, in general
that means we see each other on Facebook and Instagram. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">My daughter loses friends. The Dutch
community in Lebanon loses members. But that’s how it is, if you live in a
country that is <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lTduTwqtjY"><span style="color: blue;">perpetually
in motion</span></a>. And so this Sunday, we said goodbye to friends with a hike and a
lunch at altitude (1,600 m). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKUk3__MKYRtz8WdLLANoDaYJ6K9DICOj2Bj3uXLplUK8UvjnrSR8ZWy9fyyBGyFvoA9ZvVmvJAbH1oDH8KyY3ljU4bkKLl_lZMAdG5pR-DBgV3MuSkaVGO2ehUF0jnp5unIfaIw/s1600/IMG_2149.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="742" data-original-width="1600" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKUk3__MKYRtz8WdLLANoDaYJ6K9DICOj2Bj3uXLplUK8UvjnrSR8ZWy9fyyBGyFvoA9ZvVmvJAbH1oDH8KyY3ljU4bkKLl_lZMAdG5pR-DBgV3MuSkaVGO2ehUF0jnp5unIfaIw/s640/IMG_2149.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">At first we tried hiking through a patch of cedar forest,
but the Lebanese army had decided to set up some target practicing that morning
down in the valley, and some members in the company deemed it not safe. The
machine guns were fine, but once they started with mortars, they did not think
the safety record of the army had been investigated sufficiently enough to take that risk,
especially since we had small children and dogs with us. So we tried the other
side of the mountain.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkR3dZma6h24Baga8PLCqyhfw_I9xXIwEhyphenhyphenj47NYzegzIhD05qJrXo67EJPDZEc6tCD6GCwaA674OlR6-zuX1ZWMa-YJ78mDfaBkxRvMYmdNfy1kGVBdgsjguj9iznRpKa6EiRcg/s1600/IMG_2329.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1199" data-original-width="1600" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkR3dZma6h24Baga8PLCqyhfw_I9xXIwEhyphenhyphenj47NYzegzIhD05qJrXo67EJPDZEc6tCD6GCwaA674OlR6-zuX1ZWMa-YJ78mDfaBkxRvMYmdNfy1kGVBdgsjguj9iznRpKa6EiRcg/s640/IMG_2329.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The other side is rented out each summer to shepherds from
Arsal who <span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://sietske-in-beiroet.blogspot.com/2013/09/transhumance.html"><span style="color: blue;">roam</span></a>
</span>the hillsides with their sheep and <span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://sietske-in-beiroet.blogspot.com/2013/11/know-your-goats.html"><span style="color: blue;">Shami
goats</span></a> </span>in spring and summer. And these guys have nasty dogs who, although
safe for humans, like to have our city dogs for lunch. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
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</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYvWbOjOGFbacRjqMZ1hNSI9Phaid4KiuARNW96STbZgdkVbQs9-Yook1MgphuP4HZq8PUJsQozSHmcKp6-xoJtYr-AbivO4MqrhTpW8JChm-H_4qpUtYnHgWqwFglWVK0HuQ7Uw/s1600/IMG_2325.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYvWbOjOGFbacRjqMZ1hNSI9Phaid4KiuARNW96STbZgdkVbQs9-Yook1MgphuP4HZq8PUJsQozSHmcKp6-xoJtYr-AbivO4MqrhTpW8JChm-H_4qpUtYnHgWqwFglWVK0HuQ7Uw/s640/IMG_2325.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">But the highlands are beautiful, because most of it cannot reached by car and
as a result are void of the usual plastic plates, beer bottles, Pepsi cans and
other remains of BBQs. By September, the news batch of expats will have all
settled in, the Lebanese immigrants and students will have flown back over the
oceans, and the cycle begins again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy0To6Kw5GokZdhhYPQEgRwWzrb40reuDqb_hJtwONs5LYDqKw6XFWC3yPh_l8Gs1ggdzZm2KWkP1vh4FppZP46Od1kG6RXiCx3_2bVskAZvdeGoN-_EXP4wcQf96PNBgwg16HBQ/s1600/IMG_2306.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy0To6Kw5GokZdhhYPQEgRwWzrb40reuDqb_hJtwONs5LYDqKw6XFWC3yPh_l8Gs1ggdzZm2KWkP1vh4FppZP46Od1kG6RXiCx3_2bVskAZvdeGoN-_EXP4wcQf96PNBgwg16HBQ/s640/IMG_2306.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lunch tables that do not end</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Sietskehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12063618922778363385noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11791864.post-79073283363534375562017-06-05T16:46:00.001+01:002017-06-05T16:46:28.858+01:00Get on the Rail Road<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjecl-TQWmVKbq4wDK2bLOiIcTDiITxgPmXaVe-BdkTzW1HIo6MDCIE0PkhyphenhyphenUsCIGWipU4K9rQmyNNI9p9UuhO9jq4INTYDyHdREgWzdtMY2sZ3KRX-zoC1qrYShsv9y_Og3xqqXA/s1600/IMG_1591.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1600" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjecl-TQWmVKbq4wDK2bLOiIcTDiITxgPmXaVe-BdkTzW1HIo6MDCIE0PkhyphenhyphenUsCIGWipU4K9rQmyNNI9p9UuhO9jq4INTYDyHdREgWzdtMY2sZ3KRX-zoC1qrYShsv9y_Og3xqqXA/s640/IMG_1591.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The stretch between Sawfar and Bhamdoun (is paved). The sea looms in the distance (you are looking at clouds here)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">If you’re
into hiking, then you know that can be a bit of a challenge in Lebanon. There
are no hiking maps (other than</span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, serif;"> <a href="http://www.lebanontrail.org/category.jhtm?cid=116">t<span style="color: blue;">he LMT</span></a></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">), and virtually
no trails that are blazed. The </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_long-distance_paths" style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="color: blue;">GR system</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">
is nonexistent, and unless you know your way around , or are adventurous, you
are dependent on the outdoor companies (which invariably include long
breakfasts or lunches, or you are joined by people who haven’t hiked in 20
years, or who shouldn’t be hiking) or you have to hire your own guide. (The Dutch,
by the way, </span><a href="http://sietske-in-beiroet.blogspot.com/2015/04/hiking-with-dutch.html" style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="color: blue;">do
not like</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"> guides).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6jxDPslLc_P13rE5dCSQKaJd_WT-SLYN028k0y-f4pLFcp83utgsF_2TERsNIQdVExc_mykNK0f05VtOsx7_F9bhBY94PwZ6_cwMPGlaiw0PxeoxJ4sbuyxnZbVimT6Vsn7fRvg/s1600/IMG_1628.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="790" data-original-width="1600" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6jxDPslLc_P13rE5dCSQKaJd_WT-SLYN028k0y-f4pLFcp83utgsF_2TERsNIQdVExc_mykNK0f05VtOsx7_F9bhBY94PwZ6_cwMPGlaiw0PxeoxJ4sbuyxnZbVimT6Vsn7fRvg/s640/IMG_1628.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If you continue this way, you will eventually end up in the Beqaa Valley. Mind the smoke, that is where Hamana burns its garbage :( Highway on your right, valley on your left.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">But I have
figured out a way around it; Follow the railroad tracks. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">It’s been a trend for
quite some time now in other places, converting old railway tracks into bicycle
paths. It’s happening all over in the </span><a href="http://www.bicycling.com/rides/travel/10-best-car-free-bike-paths-in-the-usa/slide/5"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="color: blue;">States</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"> and </span><a href="http://bicycletouring.bike/10-old-railway-trails-to-cycle-along.html"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="color: blue;">Europe</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">. In Lebanon, we’ve got over 140 kilometers (or so </span><a href="https://www.mashallahnews.com/meeting-along-rail-line/"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="color: blue;">I have read</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">) of abandoned tracks. So far, not one
kilometer of it has been allocated for pedestrians of bicyclists, but the
tracks are there. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Granted, we’re
not much of a bicycling nation, but if you can get an entire town to walk a 10
K on a marathon day, I dare say you can organize a 140 K hiking path through
Lebanon. It would be a fantastic trail. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWDNeYL8XhlYGhLt4oMbZCBdz_yU_pEskvpaUJxj2zrwcbaG957l5zuQ3X5wJg2L2MCbpGEoMWVznuedwAMqDwKm2-WqFTu1kei-U-dFd_e14ocT4OMRezQePNIb8MzHspIRyPTQ/s1600/IMG_1621.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1065" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWDNeYL8XhlYGhLt4oMbZCBdz_yU_pEskvpaUJxj2zrwcbaG957l5zuQ3X5wJg2L2MCbpGEoMWVznuedwAMqDwKm2-WqFTu1kei-U-dFd_e14ocT4OMRezQePNIb8MzHspIRyPTQ/s640/IMG_1621.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It doesn't look like a rail road track, but it is.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgflRzXL4ZLvXl64GWa8vyJ6sSUaUxVFPNedyWy_cZzw3ww0NNNGGgUier655n8k261zG_h16s0D486AsefuOYSe58ImM0m3NX4WpuyARfwIQFFRZj4-wdDZDJ6Z6MZp-24Ze4GbA/s1600/IMG_1615.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1284" data-original-width="1600" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgflRzXL4ZLvXl64GWa8vyJ6sSUaUxVFPNedyWy_cZzw3ww0NNNGGgUier655n8k261zG_h16s0D486AsefuOYSe58ImM0m3NX4WpuyARfwIQFFRZj4-wdDZDJ6Z6MZp-24Ze4GbA/s640/IMG_1615.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">There’s
already something like similar - the </span><a href="http://www.lebanontrail.org/"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="color: blue;">LMT</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"> -
a 470 kilometer hiking trail through the mountains from north to south,
with guest houses along the way. But following the railroad has a historical
value, it would be a </span><a href="https://now.mmedia.me/Library/Images/Uploaded%20Images/aextra/map-final.jpg"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="color: blue;">fantastic trail</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">. There have been talks about reviving the
railroad system in Lebanon, and I am all for it, but I think converting it into
a bicycle path is just as likely to happen.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZKi5ScEH9gMd6EFS12mnEUp-RALihMZioTx13yF5Q0hRhFWtBc70CM2NTZ2r46LiLVhnAayOCSjQ1pOdqhHHVCv31QPWI1N9WWK_0GGRSb7Wq4DtncSlrjZUboh2icOcvFhCY5Q/s1600/IMG_1602.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1408" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZKi5ScEH9gMd6EFS12mnEUp-RALihMZioTx13yF5Q0hRhFWtBc70CM2NTZ2r46LiLVhnAayOCSjQ1pOdqhHHVCv31QPWI1N9WWK_0GGRSb7Wq4DtncSlrjZUboh2icOcvFhCY5Q/s640/IMG_1602.JPG" width="562" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fantastic villas (some old railroad sign in front of it). This one reminds me of Villa Villekulla, the house of Pippi Longstocking.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Anyway, if
you know the neighborhood a little, following bits of tracks makes for a
fantastic and easy) hike. I walked the track from Dahr el Baidar to Bhamdoun
last Sunday morning (at 7 AM no less) It is about 8 K, downhill, and although
the rails are gone, and some parts are paved, it does give you some idea of
what passengers in the old days must have seen as they were looking out of the
windows of the passenger wagons.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYg9dSwMckheqXOH7vVwom2T_78-dtJ7wIENhqRdsVhk4MsH3mBmKISwU31hZLs2f-YRow4pw4TrcO3MAs39TskhcFwG9n4D49ILF-XznN-NAkoYdw5mp-zCHmPVpniE_wACaUMg/s1600/IMG_1601.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYg9dSwMckheqXOH7vVwom2T_78-dtJ7wIENhqRdsVhk4MsH3mBmKISwU31hZLs2f-YRow4pw4TrcO3MAs39TskhcFwG9n4D49ILF-XznN-NAkoYdw5mp-zCHmPVpniE_wACaUMg/s640/IMG_1601.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another beauty</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_iXc2WTmcH9ufpluXadN0FAKhCd5kzR9mCOWucTLZ7NHUl3Kd3DQS7Zq9OBiP8z18yJpKbGm60fVdSeNogol7rcdjzNu0zLorLHQx0R7Rq_OLD_RkLRexkKANd2tjss410K6j8A/s1600/IMG_1625.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="840" data-original-width="1600" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_iXc2WTmcH9ufpluXadN0FAKhCd5kzR9mCOWucTLZ7NHUl3Kd3DQS7Zq9OBiP8z18yJpKbGm60fVdSeNogol7rcdjzNu0zLorLHQx0R7Rq_OLD_RkLRexkKANd2tjss410K6j8A/s640/IMG_1625.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">and the glimpses of another one</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">This bit of
railroad was the first to open in 1895, a 147 km trip from Beirut to Damascus,
passing through Baabda, </span><a href="http://sietske-in-beiroet.blogspot.com/2008/04/chouit-araya-station.html"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="color: blue;">Araya</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">, </span><a href="http://almashriq.hiof.no/lebanon/300/380/385/railways/resources/middleeast/66-1.png"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="color: blue;">Aley</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">, </span><a href="http://www.aljazeera.com/mritems/Images/2016/4/28/ad3e6f066c304a14b0d1c95878c96cbb_8.jpg"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="color: blue;">Bhamdoun</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">, Sawfar, and Dahr el Baidar before it
descended into the Beqaa Valley and then towards the Syrian border.(</span><a href="http://almashriq.hiof.no/lebanon/300/380/385/railway/dailystar/"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="color: blue;">source</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">The tunnel
under Dahr el Baidar is still open, and you can basically walk into the Beqaa
Valley, avoiding the highway alltogether.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I started in
Dahr el Baidar, and took the direction to Beirut. The rails are gone, and the army
closed up the tunnel before Sawfar, not sure why, but the tracks runs parallel
to the main road and follow one of the upper ridges of the Lebanon Mountains. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8EodjnZVKCFGX36kMHkZLJHSux-LkdnkIZO0I9XlSfYSUNHxhV3RLAIZDJcG81f9k1gQB-rJvSYAGPaOOkfct4Uj6F-Iv5WfyzLHb9YB7g9CvRg74fJRWUURsvjuv04D2TZ-ZHA/s1600/IMG_1623.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1344" data-original-width="1600" height="536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8EodjnZVKCFGX36kMHkZLJHSux-LkdnkIZO0I9XlSfYSUNHxhV3RLAIZDJcG81f9k1gQB-rJvSYAGPaOOkfct4Uj6F-Iv5WfyzLHb9YB7g9CvRg74fJRWUURsvjuv04D2TZ-ZHA/s640/IMG_1623.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Chateau Bernina Hotel has seen better days . . . </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5lPxXSbf_T0jN4Jf5B3XWzS7pWRfi3NaKm7q43vXHG8pQVw3QsuqedMKQvc1QRCVksLrAhBR1N5KP38pEi07xCGHux0VDPOis6XrUpBWJcwmpSaSZiGguBF3xZkzqjqz-ckYsyw/s1600/IMG_1608.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1051" data-original-width="1600" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5lPxXSbf_T0jN4Jf5B3XWzS7pWRfi3NaKm7q43vXHG8pQVw3QsuqedMKQvc1QRCVksLrAhBR1N5KP38pEi07xCGHux0VDPOis6XrUpBWJcwmpSaSZiGguBF3xZkzqjqz-ckYsyw/s640/IMG_1608.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">. . . and so has the Sawfar Train Station .</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Walking that
railroad gives you’ve got fantastic views across the Beirut River Valley (Lamartine
Valley) to the Metn region, until it enters Sawfar. Sawfar was, a long time
ago, where the upper class lounged in summer. Their monumental villas, dating back from the 40’s
and 50’s and older, many of them abandoned and in various states of disrepair, lie
on both sides of the track. Their architecture remind of the villas around Lac
d’Annecy and the lake of Geneva. They
are a sharp contracts with the incredibly ugly monstrosities that the Arabs
have built after the civil war. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixTptXjd1wE-yHYJOaM1NoP87S1xX7xVALKjIigiq3d-QuyNWRKkfYHvUCcg0lnG09ivt34JKGgGF5l8lphUKgfokyn5-pnLBOmeDQ7qq658HNk5YVNF9wI833yu5XlCvocS40Rg/s1600/IMG_1616.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1174" data-original-width="1600" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixTptXjd1wE-yHYJOaM1NoP87S1xX7xVALKjIigiq3d-QuyNWRKkfYHvUCcg0lnG09ivt34JKGgGF5l8lphUKgfokyn5-pnLBOmeDQ7qq658HNk5YVNF9wI833yu5XlCvocS40Rg/s640/IMG_1616.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You walk past the back of houses and you encounter not-so Chien Mechants. This one was really cute</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFCC6vNTiIoPc1VWnN4gAwlPUxqZPj1plPOhx7VocqJlSJHEyQYptt-xziTyugeSaW-ibUcOlJIO_8YVp8h_wARJOx_IArRz45cFljYW_ecxM6bLf7BOYKueUQJ32LrbXqEfyFLw/s1600/IMG_1619.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="905" data-original-width="1600" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFCC6vNTiIoPc1VWnN4gAwlPUxqZPj1plPOhx7VocqJlSJHEyQYptt-xziTyugeSaW-ibUcOlJIO_8YVp8h_wARJOx_IArRz45cFljYW_ecxM6bLf7BOYKueUQJ32LrbXqEfyFLw/s640/IMG_1619.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And beautiful flower gardens</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">There’s the
back of the Hotel Bernina, another pre-war icon. The sign above the gate says
it is “Under German management.” I have always wondered what that implies. I envision
a Von Trapp kind of family. Someone told me that the guests are still received
by someone in tuxedo, and that the atmosphere was reminiscent of Basil in
Fawlty Towers. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">You pass by
the old station in Sawfar, past the <a href="http://sietske-in-beiroet.blogspot.com/search?q=grand+hotel+sofar"><span style="color: blue;">Grand
Hotel</span></a>, and leave town, along the ridge, and again you have a fantastic view
across the Lamartine Valley . This is a paved section, until you reach the
outskirts of Bhamdoun. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv9rsao24hf3pKoNNIC0Yhry2HvM7B3RrMhEMJn4N8tCfH40qBkaMjN4DqpzL37K397T3wNVLOWapLCmcAN2qlZdySh1q9PIVeDwxMveG6HLnLYekCKt3HZqt4DPD4kDoM7_ucSw/s1600/IMG_1583.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="892" data-original-width="1600" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv9rsao24hf3pKoNNIC0Yhry2HvM7B3RrMhEMJn4N8tCfH40qBkaMjN4DqpzL37K397T3wNVLOWapLCmcAN2qlZdySh1q9PIVeDwxMveG6HLnLYekCKt3HZqt4DPD4kDoM7_ucSw/s640/IMG_1583.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leaving Sawfar</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Here you pass
through the Jewish quarter, past the synagogue, until you reach the highway
where Bhamdoun station used to be. You can continue from there, because the
track goes all the way down to Beirut, but the hike is along a bit of highway
here, and difficult to follow. I’ll try that bit later. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKvtRR7HF-8v46whZ__XA1BVAgJynG8v5wdFLbVU0Puzs5lTmIW24p_q4w_egvidgn3aZoXLrPX89D0P0GxBrb7m5TVXRqRXJrUe0p3SqJbMtz_iKsbrzMdvZKXiAR24pSWOJVfg/s1600/IMG_1586.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKvtRR7HF-8v46whZ__XA1BVAgJynG8v5wdFLbVU0Puzs5lTmIW24p_q4w_egvidgn3aZoXLrPX89D0P0GxBrb7m5TVXRqRXJrUe0p3SqJbMtz_iKsbrzMdvZKXiAR24pSWOJVfg/s640/IMG_1586.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cut for the train</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">So if you like
hiking on your own, get on the railroad.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRZcYDrReZa4EdBWUkyAzu3rW7YhSb2LlnlT312E4O-VQMtFv2tKz0sQ-wdnYy5xdlQjtH4bGcUamxj1F1xnUM7dQQljtgzRKPF82nw6BKm8jvT_6lg5Qcxd0bWqXNdafzkW5P8w/s1600/IMG_1592.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1600" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRZcYDrReZa4EdBWUkyAzu3rW7YhSb2LlnlT312E4O-VQMtFv2tKz0sQ-wdnYy5xdlQjtH4bGcUamxj1F1xnUM7dQQljtgzRKPF82nw6BKm8jvT_6lg5Qcxd0bWqXNdafzkW5P8w/s640/IMG_1592.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Enjoy the views</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
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Sietskehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12063618922778363385noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11791864.post-27804303978766701942017-05-22T19:17:00.003+01:002017-05-22T19:17:55.924+01:00Women's Race<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2u1eJYsP8nLo5Qdu1jgdpRsZ_rszdBDOA-z63d1r8omnCBigTrnMURoo6bL5WLZBefsmIrAjbrt-NscJ7AmRe7mlIk9Mv7dd3okObOH1gzoJo5WHrHuzTTsJ13FmNISBSKRahBA/s1600/IMG_0583.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2u1eJYsP8nLo5Qdu1jgdpRsZ_rszdBDOA-z63d1r8omnCBigTrnMURoo6bL5WLZBefsmIrAjbrt-NscJ7AmRe7mlIk9Mv7dd3okObOH1gzoJo5WHrHuzTTsJ13FmNISBSKRahBA/s640/IMG_0583.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ladies on the run</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I cannot really pinpoint this loss of inspiration. Is it
because of a change in jobs, and I feel invigorated to learn new things and try
different approaches. Is it because I am more active in Instagram? Or because I
am so incredibly busy with life? Is it because hubby likes me to join on his
hikes and adventures? Is it because a partner in crime has moved? Is it because
I no longer use a camera, just a phone? Or is it because Beirut no longer
inspires? I do not know, but for some reason, there is little to write about.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUQzXTunRxNd7OImC9unHpuI01WiBl_3DCQGcl0kWxECbubd_xJVLIljtwoVKYam-Qvr7Rdv_L66zZ0aiLJ87V6LHHO6oBBpbW-Xzc4nUZbU8eBk3Z4nw3eTJZq0BUrFQBDWWFVA/s1600/IMG_0593.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUQzXTunRxNd7OImC9unHpuI01WiBl_3DCQGcl0kWxECbubd_xJVLIljtwoVKYam-Qvr7Rdv_L66zZ0aiLJ87V6LHHO6oBBpbW-Xzc4nUZbU8eBk3Z4nw3eTJZq0BUrFQBDWWFVA/s640/IMG_0593.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">last minute advice from the man who usually is her running partner</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I do plenty of things, and then I write a post, and reread it, and I think “Mwwwwaaaa. . . . no.” And then I drop it. Or the post is fine but the pictures are ‘moyenne’, Like this, of course, I’ll never end up posting anything. So let’s just post something.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUOBT1UVVJ1q9dPN37VrndeJ8Y6qD-m6uGDzgfpOTel9qonVp034njMxIYzREFbLInzK11jRXtazqRF8pSBH7Q8pofcu_lfDecWjTQiL52B_uII2p82O4rP2tUcsmKX6r1MNmFvA/s1600/IMG_0591-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUOBT1UVVJ1q9dPN37VrndeJ8Y6qD-m6uGDzgfpOTel9qonVp034njMxIYzREFbLInzK11jRXtazqRF8pSBH7Q8pofcu_lfDecWjTQiL52B_uII2p82O4rP2tUcsmKX6r1MNmFvA/s640/IMG_0591-001.JPG" width="516" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Team mates</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Sunday was the annual 10 K Women’s Race.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I don’t run, but the lady working in our
house, Aregu Sisay Abate, does.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">She wins
quite a few of these races in Lebanon, she’s good on the 10 and 20 K. Last
month she ran with another 24,000 people the half marathon in Berlin. And out
of the 24,000, she ended up being #39, and 12</span><sup style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">th</sup><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> in her age category.
She ran the 20K in </span><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">01:24:46, </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">which was a personal record.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLzKgWi1Riwp2QYP4T6xdODGq5ZKPaKdnh8OT5wcTcoqgdQS7jyUVdpGQWnd0qg0399vHs-95MS_Lk43SF0ajhrKyCDFTXTk0Ki3sWQ8ASjsWZlwHnPDtLX7r1CZsvyBxkopFddg/s1600/37.43.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLzKgWi1Riwp2QYP4T6xdODGq5ZKPaKdnh8OT5wcTcoqgdQS7jyUVdpGQWnd0qg0399vHs-95MS_Lk43SF0ajhrKyCDFTXTk0Ki3sWQ8ASjsWZlwHnPDtLX7r1CZsvyBxkopFddg/s640/37.43.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But since running is picking up as a sport in Lebanon,
and these events pull in more and more people, the organizers get people from
outside to lead the field and bring down the time. And so Aregu is now up
against professional runners. But she holds on quite well. Although last
weekend she did not win, (She came in 6<sup>th</sup>, an amateur, with 5
professional runners ahead of her), she did break yet another personal record,
37:43 for 10K. Not bad at.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And what else was memorable last Sunday? The traffic. If only the roads were like this 24/7.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghAl-ylGYJG8SlORpFVpl1jLGXxYoS0ZTrWwAjliM_I0CoLsppyIZF6uY9T1bBgG2fxEkcn1Wjf1_csxt-nAw6_P2u3-PfNeZNJTEFunE7_g9U1IE20_M7PYHadXdkumspuuWbiQ/s1600/IMG_0445.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghAl-ylGYJG8SlORpFVpl1jLGXxYoS0ZTrWwAjliM_I0CoLsppyIZF6uY9T1bBgG2fxEkcn1Wjf1_csxt-nAw6_P2u3-PfNeZNJTEFunE7_g9U1IE20_M7PYHadXdkumspuuWbiQ/s640/IMG_0445.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And that’s it for today.</span></div>
Sietskehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12063618922778363385noreply@blogger.com1