Out and About in Lebanon

Now that we have been here for about three weeks, we are finding our way around and becoming accustomed to how things work. Again, a huge shout out to Nelly and Adnan who make sure that we are getting what we need and finding our way around. They have always been so much fun to travel with and now we get to be neighbors which is fabulous!

There are so many amazing places to eat out here and shopping for groceries is also very easy and convenient. It is easy to find fresh fruits and vegetables as there are small stores and stands all over where you can stop and get freshly picked produce. We are also very lucky because we get fresh milk, lebneh and other yummy things to eat from Nelly’s sister every week. Eating out is also great with so many fabulous restaurants in Batroun and other towns that are close by. Here are just a few:

Alec.O Feniquian Island restaurant in Tehoum - a very short drive from Batroun

Merchak bakery/restaurant - open since 1868 and a short walk from our place.

Kakkeh Square in Beirut where the knafeh is eaten with gloves on. It was delicious!

A fabulous breakfast at Lakkis Farm in Beirut

We go for walks frequently and people always say hello and many will invite you into their homes, or onto their porches for coffee. It doesn’t matter if you know them, and the invitation is genuine. Lebanon is such a welcoming and friendly country and though the primary language is Lebanese Arabic, most people also speak French and/or English. I am working on learning and practicing my Arabic and have found people to be very kind and patient…and happy to speak English if they know it. We frequently walk down to different places on the waterfront which are about a mile away. Here are some pics from different walks.

Part of the Phoenician Wall…one of my favorite spots

This is the entrance to a small chapel and you can see the Phoenician wall through the arch.

George and Adnan at the harbor

A view back to the city from the harbor

George by the sea

This pebbled beach is a bit of a walk north of where we usually go…so beautiful

One of the streets close to the old market

These are old train tracks that used to run from Turkey to Palestine that we walk by in Batroun

These are the Pigeon Rocks or the Rock of the Raoche in Beirut

This is the Holiday Inn in Beirut which was severely damaged during the “Battle of the Hotels” during the 1975-77 portion of the Lebanese Civil War. It still stands empty today.

Beautiful street art in Beirut

Just a cat chillin on a scooter in Beirut

I mean, yes please….in Batroun

An evening view of the sea and the Phoenician Wall