Beirut, Lebanon - Dec 2025

Waiting to board

We needed to get to Doha, Qatar for a Christmas sit and it turned out to be way cheaper to fly through Beirut and stop over for four nights than to fly Athens-Doha direct.  We will never figure out how flight prices work.  It just pays to do your research and you can save a lot of money.  And see another interesting place!

Upon arrival and talking with the taxi driver on the way to our hotel, it is apparent that this city is a victim of much unrest and attack by it's border country Israel.  Very recently there has been more bombing in the south of Lebanon.  When will it ever end.

Beirut has a population of approximately 2mil, although this figure is a mere estimation as a census has not been conducted here since 1932.  There is an apparent blend of Eastern and Western culture, with a healthy dolop of French architecture.  It feels very cosmopolitan.  Despite constant war and the devastating 2020 explosion at the port, there is clear evidence of rebuilding city wide.

We thoroughly enjoyed our time here.  We were excited about the food, which did not disappoint and the people were overjoyed that we were willing to ignore the Western press and take the chance on being here.  It was very humbling.  By the end of our stay we were just sorry it was so short and have vowed to return to see more of the country.  See what you think ....

THE ARCHITECTURE

Very new, not yet finished

Old and new juxtaposed

Mosque

Um, yeah, this soldiers got a gun!

Again, they do corner buildings very well

Beautiful garden

Typical street

Lovely church

There is evidence of distress in some areas

THE WATERFRONT

Mediterranean Coast

Fishing

Cats waiting for the bi-catch

Mullet

hmm, not sure about the sanitation of this water

Putting his crab pots out

The men play some kind of racket sport

And smoke their hookah

Swim and sunbathe on large pieces of cardboard

There is an obvious lack of women frollicking at the beaches.

Family gathering, hookah and all

James pointing at some fish topping

The famous Pigeon Rocks at Raouche

THE FOOD

Our first meal was a yummy Lebonese Fattoush (salad) in a Hookah bar.  At certain times of day every man and his dog turns up to smoke.  Men, women, young old.  We didn't partake but it was an fascinating experience.  A guy goes around all the stands replacing the charcoal to keep it lit.

We enjoyed these pastries on more than one occasion.
Spinach Fatayer, savoury with a tang of lemon.

Our local falafel kebab joint, huge, juicy and delcious

We discovered these delicious cheese stuffed flatbreads, Markouk, cooked on a dome shaped griddle.

And these cheese stuffed different type of bread. Crunchy and yummy!

We treated ourselves to a sit-down traditional Lebonese feast.

Including this rather delicious dandelion
dish.  Yummy!