Finally some rain so that ended my idea of a day by the pool at the St Georges Yacht Club. Instead I explored Beirut Souks. This is a major shopping area in downtown Beirut. The souks sustained irreparable damage during the civil war and now have been rebuilt to their original grid plan and location while maintaining the landmarks and street names. There are now 100s of shops, selling every conceivable label and still more to be built. Quite amazing considering what was left of this area after the war. Wish Mr Westfield had visited Beirut before he started transforming our shopping districts. Beirut Souks is beautiful and highly chi chi.
The food in Lebanon is fabulous and very wide ranging in style and price. Where I am staying in Beirut prices are similiar to Sydney. My favourite Italian last night cost about $34 Aussie. This is for prosciutto and melon, pasta of the day and a glass of local wine. The similiarity is in price only. The food and presentation is like 'cafe e cucina'. I could eat here seven days a week. At a little cafe in Baalbek, that has been operating for decades and run by really cute little old men, the tables are jammed together, covered in plastic for easy clean and the menu choices are just a few dishes they have bubbling on the stove. You eat for about $10. Flavours were straight from Allah himself. Difficult to have a bad meal here.
My little hotel has a bar area and each weekend groovy young things put on events. Last weekend it was some dudes with oud and tablas and this week a DJ and a singer. Very interesting and a great nights entertainment.
