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Beirut Local Customs

Roman Forum in the centre of Beirut - Beirut
Roman Forum in the centre of Beirut
by themagiclake
Learn the local customs of Beirut. Tips and photos posted by real travelers and Beirut locals.
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Currency - Lebanese Pound or 'Lira'
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  • miso80
  • By miso80 on October 15, 2005
  • Beirut Page by miso80
  • 250 & 500 Lebanese Pound Coins - Beirut
    250 & 500 Lebanese Pound Coins
    by miso80
    The Lebanese currency is the Lebanese Pound (LBP) or as it is called in arabic the 'Lira'.
    Both the LBP and the US dollar are used interchangeably in Lebanon, and the value of
    1 USD is equivalent to 1500 LBP

    If you do go to have a currency exchange you may realise that there may be a very slight difference to this - 1 USD may be 1507 LBP..but the difference is very slight in general.

    Just to give you the value of LBP, some common examples would be:
    500 ml of water = 500 LBP = 33 cents
    Can of pepsi = 750 or 1000 LBP = 45-66 cents

    We have bank notes for the values of: 1000, 5000, 10000, 20000, 50000, 100000 LBP.
    There are also coins for: 50 LBP and 100 LBP (which you will always lose and no one will ever want to accept ;-) ) and there are 250 and 500 LBP coins which will come in handy, and are accepted :)

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    St George's Cathedral
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  • nadina
  • By nadina on January 22, 2005
  • Beirut Page by nadina
  • St George's Cathedral.Beirut-Lebanon - Beirut
    St George's
    Cathedral.Beirut-Lebanon
    by nadina
    St George's Cathedral is the main Maronite church within the central Beirut district. Close to the Green Line which seperated east and west Beirut during the civil war, the Cathedral was badly damaged in the fighting. After four years of intensive renovation, it reopened on St George's Day, April 24th 2000.

    Main Religions in Lebanon:
    *Maronite - Mar Maroun
    *Roman Catholic
    *Greek Orthodox
    *Druze
    *Islam Sunni - Sunnite
    *Shi'a Shi'ite
    *Armenians - Arman

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    ~Lebanon's National Anthom~
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  • miso80
  • By miso80 on September 29, 2005
  • Beirut Page by miso80
  • The Human Flag - Beirut
    The Human Flag
    by miso80, 1 more photos
    All of us! For our Country, for our Flag and Glory!

    Our valor and our writings are the envy of the ages.

    Our mountains and our valleys, they bring forth stalwart men.

    And to Perfection all our efforts we devote.

    All of us! For our Country, for our Flag and Glory!

    Our Elders and our children, they await our Country's call,

    And on the Day of Crisis they are as Lions of the Jungle.

    The heart of our East is ever Lebanon,

    May God preserve her until end of time?

    All of us! For our Country, for our Flag and Glory!

    The Gems of the East are her land and sea.

    Throughout the world her good deeds flow from pole to pole.

    And her name is her glory since time began.

    Immortality's Symbol--the Cedar--is her Pride.

    All of us! For our Country, for our Flag and Glory!

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    BEIRUT BEFORE AND AFTER
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  • sarrahh
  • By sarrahh on April 25, 2005
  • Beirut Page by sarrahh
  • DOWN TOWN B4 AND AFTER - Beirut
    DOWN TOWN B4 AND AFTER
    by sarrahh
    IN THE COMMING PAGES I WIL SHOW YOU BEIRUT BEFORE AND AFTER WAR
    IT IS RECONSTRUCTED AND SOME OF THE BLDGS. WHERE REBUILT AGAIN
    COME AND SEE LEBANON AFTER THE WAR FINISHED IT IS NICER THAN B4THIS PIC IS IN BEIRUT DOWN TOWN AND U CAN C AN OLD CHURCH ON THE LEFT AND ON THE RIGHT IT IS HOW IT LOOKS NOWADAYS

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    Lebanese visas
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  • MrBill
  • Updated By MrBill on January 21, 2005
  • Beirut Page by MrBill
  • neo-Ottoman clocktower - Beirut
    neo-Ottoman clocktower
    by MrBill
    Travelers wishing to enter Lebanon must possess a valid passport with a visa obtained beforehand from a Lebanese embassy or consulate abroad. However, many visitors from other Arab states, the USA, and from Western Europe can buy their visas upon arrival at the international airport in Beirut. If you are arriving by boat, the ship will make the necessary registration on your behalf. When we landed in Beirut on a recent cruise, the ship kept our passports, and we were given a photocopy with copy of the visa attached. But, when we left, we got our passports back with no Lebanese stamp to say we had either entered or left the country. It was very strange. However, if you have an Israeli stamp in your passport you will be denied a visa, as the two countries are still technically at war with one another. If you plan to visit Isreal and Lebanon, have the Israeli authorities stamp a piece of paper to carry in your passport, instead of your passport itself. Or you can visit other Arab countries first, and then visit Isreal, if you do not intend to return.

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  • Phone: +01340 940 4
  • Website: www.destionationlebanon.com
  • Other Contact: mot@lebanon-tourism.com
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    Mercedes and sheets
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  • MalenaN
  • By MalenaN on May 15, 2005
  • Beirut Page by MalenaN
  • In Manara - Beirut
    In Manara
    by MalenaN
    The most common car in Lebanon should be the Mercedes. At least almost all taxies are Mercedes cars. This car is standing on a street in Manara, western Beirut.
    People living in the house behind have put big sheets over the windows for protection from the sun.

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    All about the Argileh or Shisha!
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  • miso80
  • By miso80 on July 5, 2006
  • Beirut Page by miso80
  • Beirut Local Customs
    by miso80
    There are so many different names for this unique smoking device. Some call it a argileh, nargileh, hookah, water-pipe, shisha, etc. The Argileh (NARGILE as it is known in the Middle East) has been the standard of smoking for centuries in the middle east and originated in Turkey over 500 years ago. HUBBLY BUBBLY smoking is quite common at restaurants and cafes all across the middle east.

    This unique smoking experience is rapidly growing in popularity all over the world. Many people love the smooth, flavorful, and cool taste of the smoke. The Shisha) pipes filter the flavored smoke with cool water making each puff oh so sweet!!

    Tobacco mixed with fruit molasses and honey is used when smoking out of a shisha. Other names for this include: tabac, tombak, tumbak, gouza, guza, moassel etc. Specifically, the tobacco is a grounded up mixture of dried fruit pulp, flavored molasses, and fresh tobacco leaves. My personal favourite is called 'Two Applies', and is made up of the dried pulp of red and green apples. The tobacco comes in a variety of flavors including apple, apricot, strawberry, mixed fruit, mint, cherry, grape, and the list just goes on and on.

    Nargileh's are usually lavishly decorated and can make for a great conversation piece in your home. And it makes for a delightful experience.

    Although all smoking is bad for your health, and you should avoid becoming addicted to it but I think it should be an interesting experience to try one :o)

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    Salads & Mezze
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  • mano0ola
  • By mano0ola on November 27, 2005
  • Beirut Page by mano0ola
  • Beirut Local Customs
    by mano0ola
    MEZZE: is the traditional lebanese meal usually served in restaurant or on special feast days . In most cultures , a meal is an organized progression of courses or single dishes. not so in Lebanon. Here , up to forty dishes are served all at the same time in communal dishes. With all the food coming at once, it is impossible to eat all of it . The main dishes are usually grilled, sizzling and smoky, on flat platters. After these are finished , just as you think that you couldn't possibly eat another bite, a selection of desserts and other fruits arrive.

    Lebanon is know by its 2 most popular salads which are "Tabouleh" and " Fatoush "
    Tabouleh : is made with parsley, bulgar wheat, finely chopped tomatoes, onion, lemon juice, mint,garlic and olive oil.
    Fatoush which is especially popular among Muslims during the Muslim month of Ramadan , is made from Tomatoes, cucumbers, onion, toasted bread, lemon juice and mint .

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    US Dollar
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  • stappm
  • By stappm on December 6, 2005
  • Beirut Page by stappm
  • Beirut Local Customs
    by stappm
    A friend of mine who works for the World Bank in Beirut, said the Leb. Pound (Livres) is linked to the USD & that is 1 reason the USD dollar is accepted EVERYWHERE in Lebanon. He went into a longer complicated explanation of the value in currency and it's history, as I was amazed that the USD was so...well.... available. Even some ATM machines ask you which currency you would like your cash in. From Taxi drivers to museums, to small shops in the souks, they all accept the US dollar and conversion is easy.... 1500LP to 1 USD. Frequently your change might be in LP or maybe in USD too.... if they have it......

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    Don't carry your bread in your hands...
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  • call_me_rhia
  • By call_me_rhia on January 11, 2004
  • Beirut Page by call_me_rhia
  • ka`ik street vendors - Beirut
    ka`ik street vendors
    by call_me_rhia
    Don't carry your bread in your hands... carry it on your wrist, as if it were a bracelet. As soon as I saw this piece of bread I fell in love with it: round and with a large hole in the middle - suits even the bigger wrists. It's called ka`ik, it's sold by street vendors about everywhere, it costs very little and... it's delicious!

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