Mar 22nd, 2013 at 10:00AM:
Beirut's Mar Mikhael (Saint Michael) looks at first glance like a pretty quiet neighborhood, a place where the sounds of machinery coming out of auto repair shops emit the only real noise of note. Scratch the surface just the tiniest bit and it becomes obvious that Mar Mikhael has gone the route of many other neglected urban corners. In between the exhaust and the whirring motors, the ...Click on a label to read posts from that part of the world.
Beirut posts
Mar Mikhael: Beirut's Shopping District
Mar 22nd, 2013 at 10:00AM:
Beirut's Mar Mikhael (Saint Michael) looks at first glance like a pretty quiet neighborhood, a place where the sounds of machinery coming out of auto repair shops emit the only real noise of note. Scratch the surface just the tiniest bit and it becomes obvious that Mar Mikhael has gone the route of many other neglected urban corners. In between the exhaust and the whirring motors, the ...Tawlet: Lebanese Locavore Love
Dec 11th, 2012 at 9:00AM:
On my first visit to Beirut's Tawlet, I stopped to ask a shopkeeper directions. "Tawlet?" she verified. I nodded. "C'est très bon," with a delicate flutter of the fingers accompanying her très, before she pointed me in the right direction. I'd heard great things about Tawlet for quite some time. The shopkeeper's gesture was the icing on the cake. I knew the way I know my own name ...Hayete: Beautiful Budget-Friendly Beirut Guesthouse
Dec 9th, 2012 at 10:00AM:
Hayete, a budget-friendly guesthouse in Beirut, is a rare bird: stylish, in a fantastic location, and relatively inexpensive.
Budget-minded travelers who also enjoy a bit of style are usually out of luck when it comes to accommodations. Budget-friendly options generally consist of hostels, folksy guesthouses, smarmy bed & breakfasts and budget hotel chains – all honorable and ...Passengers Asked To Chip In For Fuel On Diverted Plane
Aug 18th, 2012 at 2:00PM: As if fuel surcharges, baggage fees and having to pay for food on expensive flights wasn't bad enough, on Wednesday, passengers on board an Air France flight that got diverted from Beirut to Damascus were asked to help "chip in" to refuel the plane.
The reason for the diversion was tensions in Beirut. Unfortunately, the airline suspended flights to Damascus in March due to safety reasons.
...Photo of the Day: Duty free Flamenco
Feb 16th, 2012 at 7:30PM:
After many years of international travel, I've learned that duty free isn't necessarily a deal. Unless you're a smoker or live in a country where alcohol is heavily taxed (like Turkey), you won't find much value among the jumbo-sized Toblerone bars or rows of designer perfumes. But I still enjoy the ritual of browsing through the shop, trying some free samples, and maybe taking home a tasty ...Frommer's reveals top destinations for 2012
Oct 25th, 2011 at 2:00PM:
What destination are you dreaming of for 2012? The staff at Frommer's have just unveiled their list of top travel destinations for the coming year. Included in the list is a little something for everyone: large metropolises, secluded beach towns, colorful riverside villas, and more.
But Frommer's didn't just rely on their expert editors and author's for this years list--they also polled ...Introducing Far Europe and Beyond
Oct 17th, 2011 at 11:30AM:
Far Europe and Beyond, a Gadling series in partnership with bmi (British Midland International) launches today.
Europe's eastern borders cannot be defined simply. The western, northern, and southern perimeters are easy: The Atlantic, the Arctic, and the Mediterranean provide those boundaries, respectively. It's the eastern border that is more difficult to pinpoint. There are two basic ...VIDEO: Flash mob at Beirut Airport duty free
Mar 14th, 2011 at 9:30AM:
Flash mobs are nothing new, Lisbon even staged a dance at the airport in 2009, but this flash mob at Beirut Airport is the first I've seen with Arab Dabke dance. Dabke is a form of line dance which is traditionally performed at weddings and social occasions, and the group here combined it with some hip hop steps. Passengers and airport staff joined in the fun for this video made for Beirut's ...
Hezbollah theme park: an attraction designed with terror in mind
Oct 1st, 2010 at 1:30PM:
Are you always searching for a roller coaster that will make your hair stand on end? Well, if you really want to scare yourself, skip the traditional amusement park rides and catch a flight out to Beirut. There's a "theme park" in town that will open your eyes wide and keep you looking over your shoulder.
Hezbollah has gotten into the Disney business.
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Weekending: Prague
Sep 3rd, 2010 at 3:00PM:
While I'm living in Istanbul, I try to take advantage of all the amazing destinations a few hours' flight away and travel there as often as possible. I like to focus on destinations that are harder to access from the US for just a few days (such as Turkey's beach town Bodrum) and places best explored while I'm still relatively young and unencumbered (to wit: Beirut). Traveling as an expat takes ...Weekending: Beirut
Jul 23rd, 2010 at 12:00PM:
One of the best things about life as an expat in Turkey is easy access to Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, with many previously far-flung destinations only a few hours' flight away. I might not plan a week-long vacation in, say, Kosovo, but if I can be there for Friday happy hour and home Monday morning, why not? My main criteria for choosing weekend trips are easy access, no advance visa ...Terrible seat assignment kills airline passenger
Jul 13th, 2010 at 10:30AM: When Nas Air flight XY 720 from Beirut landed in Riyadh, airport workers found just how severe having the worst seat on the flight can be. The passenger wasn't alive any more, of course ... oh, and he was found on the landing gear. The corpse, ostensibly cold, has been shipped off to forensic medical experts for tests, according to local authorities.
So, how did he get there? According to AFP: ...Daily Pampering: Four Seasons Beirut
Feb 10th, 2010 at 4:00PM:
If you aren't planning to go to Beirut this year ... change your flights. After a decade of preparation and five years of construction, the Four Seasons Hotel Beirut has opened its doors. The latest property from this luxury chain may seem to be opening in an unusual place, but guests are already voting for it with their room-nights, lured by the taste of prime cuts of Charolais beef and pairing ...Gadlinks for Friday 8.14.09
Aug 14th, 2009 at 7:00PM: I hope everyone on the mainland enjoyed the Perseids meteor shower earlier this week! There were plenty of lovely streaks in the sky worthy of a few ooo's and ahh's. Here are few recent articles that might elicit similarly inspired reactions.
The most beautiful destinations in Asia [via OpenTravel]
Is Beirut gorgeous, dangerous, or both? This article sorts out the myth that is Beirut. [via ...Peace brings tourists back to Lebanon
Aug 4th, 2009 at 9:00AM: Even by the standards of the Middle East, Lebanon has had a rough time of it. A bitter civil war and periodic Israeli invasions have left much of the country in ruins, but now that order appears to be restored, the country's tourism ministry is wooing visitors back.
Lebanon has a lot going for it--beautiful beaches, good skiing, fine dining, fantastic historical sights, and cheap accommodation. ...Keep busy with 44 travel ideas
Jan 10th, 2009 at 2:00PM: If the entire world is too much from which to choose, take a look at The 44 Places to Go in 2009 suggested by the New York Times. Some are obvious, such as Reykjavik, which was been on everyone's mind 2008. Others are easy, including Washington D.C. Our nation's capital has plenty of hotels (including the funky Hotel Helix, photo at right), great public transportation and access via two major ...Concierge.com names Tel Aviv #1 must see destination of 09
Dec 18th, 2008 at 10:00AM: Many of the top destinations on Concierge.com's 2009 "It" list may surprise you, starting with their number one pick: Tel Aviv. At they pitch it, however, Israel's second largest city and economic hub sounds glorious: "...this newly hip city has plenty to celebrate, with a spate of new hotels and redevelopment, a happening contemporary art scene, and vibrant nightlife. Unlike more religious and ...Terrorist themed restaurant in Lebanon
Jun 23rd, 2008 at 8:30AM: Who said terrorism and violence couldn't be laughed at, or to that matter, even eaten!? Fast food restaurant "Buns and Guns" in Beirut allows you to do both. In a space decorated as if a military post (with weapons, ammunition and camouflage netting hanging from the ceiling), this eatery serves "rocket propelled grenade" (chicken on a skewer), "terrorist bread" and other dishes called ...
