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.
Lebanon 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 ...My Year In Adventure Travel: A Look Back And A Look Forward
Dec 19th, 2012 at 3:00PM:
We're approaching the end of 2012, so it's a good time to assess what we've done and where we're headed. There's a whole year of adventures and opportunities awaiting us in 2013, despite what the New Age crystal clutchers say. The world is not ending and that's a good thing!
I've had some interesting adventure travel this year. My family and I spent a week on the rugged Orkney Islands north ...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 ...A Traveler In The Foreign Service: Meet An Intrepid Diplomat
Apr 4th, 2012 at 10:00AM: In our ongoing attempt to demystify the Foreign Service, we're going to occasionally introduce you to diplomats living in various parts of the world. Amy Tachco is a 36-year-old Foreign Service Officer (FSO) originally from Southern California and Central Ohio who joined the Foreign Service just over ten years ago.
Amy and I joined the Foreign Service at the same time and were part of the same ...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 ...
5 reasons to be a tourist
Aug 3rd, 2010 at 12:30PM:
After three months living in Istanbul, I've gained a stable of a few dozen Turkish words to string into awkward sentences; learned some local intel on what soccer teams to root for, where to get the best mantı, and the best Turkish insults (maganda is the local equivalent of guido); and have come to avoid Sultanahmet with the same disdain I used to reserve for Times Square when I lived in New ...Daily Pampering: Seven chances to try a new job around the world
May 5th, 2010 at 4:00PM:
Do you feel a bit confined by your gig? Sure, the cash is great, but you are held hostage by it. You can't throw it all away and chase your low-paying dream. Well, now you have a chance to turn the paycheck that keeps you in the office 14 hours a day into the chance to try something new, even if only briefly. Cox & King is offering several packages designed to give you a once-in-a-lifetime ...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 ...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 ...Use History to Predict the Weather
Jul 13th, 2007 at 3:47PM: I love weather. Seriously -- I've always been a closet meteorologist. You know, the guy who attempts to predict the weather without knowing a lick of science. Just by looking at the clouds, or maybe sticking a wet finger in the air to test the wind, I'm able to come up with a pseudointellectual prediction -- a forecast sprinkled with terms like troposphere, low level disturbances, and ...
