Middle East – Top 5 Destinations!

No. 4 – Beirut, Lebanon

Listed by Lonely Planet as the Top 10 liveliest cities in the world for 2009, Beirut is indeed the most modern and hippest of all the places I visited. Just like Lebanon is known as the Switzerland of the Middle East, Beirut is also known as the Paris of the Middle East. As a matter of fact, Beirut is similar to Vancouver in that one can ski the mountains and head down to the beach the same day.

Aside from its trendy shopping areas like Hamra street, great, well-run restaurants, French-style elegant apartments and numerous night clubs and bars, Beirut boasts a gorgeous waterfront. And in this waterfront lies Pigeon’s Rock, also known as Raouché – an icon of Beirut. During nightfall, the waterfront is bustling with strollers, skaters, joggers, and fishermen of all ages and classes.

One can get an awesome view of Beirut and its neighbouring suburb of Jounieh from a mountain that runs gondolas much like Grouse Mountain. Nearby there’s Jeita Grotto, caves internationally known for the spectacular stalactites and stalagmites, stone curtains and columns. This is a must see, in spite of the long line-ups of visitors.

Beirut makes a great microcosm of the Middle East in that it boasts some of the wealthiest citizens – witnessed by the many Ferraris and Lambourghinis out on the streets – as well as the most marginalized ones. Comprised of mostly Palestinian refugees living in camps, the poorer neighbourhoods are a far cry from the affluent West Beirut yet only a few blocks away from it.

Beirut reminds me of my visit to Sarajevo right after the war. One can find many remarkable newly-built skyscrapers but still a few remain with bullet holes. Still reeling from years of civil and foreign wars, Beirut stands unshaken and appears stronger than ever before. A great example was driving near a main highway bridge to southern Lebanon that was destroyed by Israel’s attacks in 2006. Yet, the bridge was being rebuilt in a rapid pace and almost completed when I visited.

The people of Beirut, just like those of Sarajevo, are modern, westernized, open-minded yet time and again had to deal with religious and sectarian tensions as well as foreign attacks. And each time, their bravery and sheer will power has made them stronger and among the most hospitable and friendliest people in the region. And of course their women are absolutely gorgeous!