[speeder]

Originally Posted by motion

I knew it would be interesting when a brawl broke out in row 14 right after I landed in Beirut Pretty strange to see 65 year old guys going at each other. Someone wouldn't let a lady out of the center seat, then all hell broke out. Typical ME behavior.

OK, so it turns out Beirut is fairly innocuous. I trudged around for 10 hours today and it appears that I am the only Westerner with a camera in the entire city. I suppose most of the tourists are from other ME countries. A LOT of money here... I think the Gulf States are bankrolling the redevelopment. Pretty much every building over 20-30 years old is filled with bullet holes. I guess the bombed buildings have all been torn down.

People stare at me everywhere I go, but leave me alone, which is great. They are not a gregarious people at all. I'd say if you have it on your list, then definitely go. Tony Bourdain really sung the praises of Beirut, but I'm not feeling it. It has 0.01% of the personality of Bangkok or Saigon. A couple days here is fine, unless you feel the need to go into the countryside.

BTW, I saw garbage trucks out and about and just a few piles of trash here and there, so I guess the strike is over.

Awesome report and glad to hear about the garbage strike. I think you need to go there in summer in order to give it a fair shake but I believe your observations.