Lebanon, Summer 2012

I didn't apply for the Santa School this time. But I am still considering this fabulous idea of an amazing education.

Instead I wrote a 32-year old lawyer from Belarus whom I met back in november 2010 in Dominican Republic when traveling around Caribbean with my younger sister. I knew from Facebook that Sviatlana was now living in Lebanon for a shorter period and I was eager to travel to the real Middle East for the first time and of cause to see her again. She invited me to stay with her in her apartment in Beirut and I left Turkey the next day.

I found these boxes and prepared my bike for Denmark. Myself for Lebanon!
Where: Canakkale, Turkey

The Blue Mosque, Istanbul by night
Where: Istanbul, Turkey

Istanbul, new old town
Where: Istanbul, Turkey

Many buildings are left with marks from the Hezbollah-Israel war of 2006.
Where: Beirut, Lebanon

The renovated, or lets say newly built, downtown of Beirut is more or less empty of people due to ramadan and the extremely 40 degrees Celsius.
Where: Beirut, Lebanon

Sviatlana awaits a delicious Lebanese bread filled with cheese. I like her smile.
Café Hamra, Hamra Street, Beirut

One of the worlds oldest towns. Here we are overlooking the harbor.
Where: Byblos, Lebanon

Enjoying the beach and the lukewarm Mediterranean Sea
Where: Byblos, Lebanon

Just bought this dress for special events...
Where: Byblos, Lebanon

Hezbollah wall: pointing a huge missile at Tel Aviv, Israel. Not the best friends.
Where: Baalbek, Lebanon

Walking Baalbek ruins/Heliopolis (The city of the sun) which was one of the largest sanctuaries in the roman empire. Nowadays it's Lebanon's greatest Roman treasure and it can be counted among the wonders of the ancient world, containing some of the best preserved Roman ruins.Where: Baalbek, Lebanon

Iphone fish eye :)
Where: Baalbek, Lebanon

Temple of Bacus
Where: Baalbek, Lebanon

Temple of Jupiter
Where: Baalbek, Lebanon

Election poster. Hezbollah.
Where: Baalbek, Lebanon

'Drinking' Shisha like the locals.
Where: Baalbek, Lebanon

A cable-sorrounded mosque
Where: Sour, Lebanon

Sviatlana is Oxford educated and very intellectual woman. Here she is explaining about the ruins before the sun sets.
Where: Sour, Lebanon

Sunset
Where: Sour, Lebanon

 

The Lebanese cuisine/street snacks:

As I visited Lebanon during ramadan I had to show the fasting muslims some respect. Therefore one of my biggest passions, food tasting along the streets, weren't the best idea. But well, I gave it a try:

More sweets. After sweets I eat savory snacks. And after savory snacks I go back to the sweets. It's kind of delicious but afterwards you feel pretty stupid and fat. Haha. Enjoy!

Spinach filled little crispy baby in a dough full of oil. I just like her.

Back to the sweets. I love this chewy, dried fruit almond decorated little delight. So sweet you are.

Fresh fruits

Dried fruits

Dates are everywhere. Love them!

Lebanese food table!
Where: a restaurant in Baalbek, Lebanon

Close-up: A yummi table of Lebanese specialities. Lamb shish, marinated chicken, sweet onions & parsley, hummus,  Baba Ghanoush (eggplant dip), flat bread. And the wonderful salads: tabouleh and fattoush. 

Haha, my super delicious breakfast while walking around Beirut. I felt so healthy and so greasy at the same time.
Where: The Corniche, Beirut, Lebanon

Lebanese Dolmas!!

Back to the sweet stuff. This one a pistachio fella with orange flavor. Weird and delicious.

A Lebanese döner. I didn't really get use to the pinch of cinnamon that they mix with their meat and also they use too much citrus to my taste. Well it still tasted heavenly, but the turkish ones are a biiiit better.

Enjoying the high class life at the Riviera pools
Where: Riviera Hotel, Beirut, Lebanon