Saturday we got a late start on our planned excursion. It ended up being Steven, Rana, Ray and me for the day. Ray is heading back to the states early May, while Jibril and I hope to make Lebanon our permanent home come hell or highwater. It was nice to indulge in being touristy and taking pics for Ray to take back with him. Although, he too being a hard core traveler since retiring from the military, now wants to make repeated visits back to Beirut, he caught the Leb bug also. We began our walk by hitting The Martyrs Place and snapping pics of the war ravaged statue (the pics above) before heading to the Corniche, making stops along the way. Steven wanted us to see this empty lot filled with toilets which he and Jibril see daily on their walk to work. They assumed since a building was going up next to the lot the rows and rows of toilets (looking somewhat like a weird Arlington cemetary) where getting prepped for installation. Of course we took a few pics and milled about. Suddenly a woman appeared asking if we were with the press, which I thought funny cuz we looked like dorky tourists. She chatted us up and explained the toilets were actually a public installation called ¨Haven´t 15 Years of Hiding in the Toilets Been Enough?¨ They were in the process of setting up a stage and hanging posters for the opening the following day. During the years of the civil war people spent a lot of time hiding in their bathrooms if they couldnt make it to a safer spot. The installation runs from 4/13/08 to 4/27/08 and is being sponsored by the Lebanese Association for Human Rights. It opens tonight with some live music and live testimonies of memories from everyday life during the civil war, given by those who lived thru it (I copied that from the brochure she handed us). So now we have plans for tonight. Lots of events will be going on thru out the span of the exhibit and its just a few blocks down from us.
From there it was the Holiday Inn that is quite a graphic and haunting reminder of the countryś history. I was surprised we were able to get so close to the building to take more pictures without being told to beat it by soldiers or security. Steven was the tour guide explaining the history of every stop we took. Right around the corner was the sight where Rafiq Hariri was assassinated. You could still see the damage to the buildings in the near vicinity where his car blew up and the patched up road work. We stopped to pay our respects at his newly erected statue. Then made the stop at the Hard Rock Cafe for group pics. It seemed appropriate if not a bit too sentimental after actually seeing the spot where Lebanon lost Hariri.
From there it was hitting the Corniche and walking the length to get too Pigeon Rock/Rawsheh Rock. It was a great way to relax and enjoy each others company, people watch, and stop and stare out at the Med while enjoying the cool breeze and quietly contemplating this city and country which I would like to call home.
Right before we hit Pigeon Rock the lure of an ice cream stand was overwhelming and we all took a moment to indulge. It was then off to Pigeon Rock to take some picks. I was a bit disappointed with the timing of getting there with the sun shining right behind the rock, so maybe another day if I can get up early enough, steal a camera and get it so the sun is behind me coloring the rock. Once we hit the Rock, took pictures and hung around a bit Rana and I called it a day and headed back to the apartment and the guys hit Sabra for groceries. Needless to say we had yet another incredible meal prepared by Chef Rana along with her homemade custard desert. I dont think she knows how truly blessed we all are now that she is here.
Iĺl write more later after we go see the opening of the exhibit tonight. Should be interesting and heartbreaking hearing the testimonies…
Lynnś Weblog 
