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 | Beirut Off the Beaten Path | Tips 1 - 10 of 29 |  |
Popular Off the Beaten Path | Miscellaneous Off the Beaten Path Tips | All Tips (29)  | |  |  | walking around Beirut | Tip Rating:   |  |  | |  |
As soon as you disembark from the ship you will be molested by every manner and number of taxi drivers, some of whom can be quite aggressive. We even had one follow us once we left the port area, not believing us when we said we did not need a taxi. The normal price from the harbor to downtown is about $3 or about $10 per hour to rent a taxi. Of course, they will try to cheat you into paying multiples of this. You have to be firm. However, we were able to walk all over the downtown and to the beach and along the promenade without taking a taxi. We only took one taxi, and that was to take us to the far end of the beach front and then back again to the ship. We negotiated $5 thinking it would take about 30 mins., but it only took about 20 mins. actually. He still wanted more money, but we only gave him the $5 and he did not make a fuss. It helps if you speak French. Not everyone speaks English, so a few words parlez vous la francais is appreciated and makes getting around easier. By the way, pay a fair price for your taxi. The dollar you try to save maybe someone else's daily wage or profit, and these people are not well off compared to your average tourist, so be fair and it will be appreciated. Leave a Comment
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A village in the mountains in Northern Lebanon (central northern). You can get there via car only in the summer, as the road is snowed in during the winter. It is a lovely village perched on what seems the top of the mountains. We were fortunate enough to stay in a friends family's home, Beit Isshak. The home was a stop for noble travelers from the Ottoman Empire and was built in the early 19th century. Tours are provided by many of the residences in Douma and you just have to ask (Arabic usually necessary!) Beit Issak was quite an attraction with period furnishings and Art, over the weekend several groups stopped by for tours! Walking the village is a must, they have a Greek Sarcophagus in the town center which was the burial place of a 4th century priest, and other late Roman and Byzantine remains as well as a Monastery and a couple of must see churches all with the lovely Lebanese Architecture of stone and red-roofs seen through-out the village. The website is loaded with information as well as directions, festivals, and activities. There is a hotel in Douma and it is quite pretty with great views ( Grand Hotel Douma Phone: +961 6 520202)- all the information needed is on the site (available in English too). Trekking and hiking are popular and you could even camp. Click on "about Douma" then go to information - http://www.doumaclub.org/main.asp?id1=left_nav&id2=aboutdouma_index Leave a Comment Website: http://www.doumaclub.org
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| | | | AUB - The American University of Beirut | Tip Rating:  | | | | |
"So that they may have Life and have it more abundantly" - this is the motto that's engraved on AUB's main gate, as you walk through it on Bliss St...I obtained my B.S. from this university, and I'm currently finishing up my M.S. as well. Its been said to be the most reputable university in the Middle East..however, the reason I write about it here, is not because of its standard of education (although if you get a chance to study here..dont miss it ;-) ) But I write about AUB because it is probably one of the greenest spots in Beirut..it has also got one of the most beautiful views of the Beirut Corniche and the mediterranean Sea. In order to get into AUB, however, you must ask for permission. upon entering the main gate, you can ask the security how that is to be done. You may also, call and ask beforehand, and there are guides that actually take you around AUB and show you the different departments and landmarks within the university. Take a camera and a light spirit, some comfortable shoes..and be ready to go around one of the best spots in Beirut! (Will be adding more pictures VERY soon) Leave a Comment Phone: +961-1-350000Website: http://www.aub.edu.lb
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Form Jounieh, 20 KM north of Beirut, you can take the telepherique (cable car) to Harissa in the mountains. We did choose for the other option by road, allthough not less breathtaking. The road twists alarmingly with sheer drops along parts of the road. But at the end you will reach the statue of the Virgin of Lebanon with outstretched arms, welcoming you. We visited the modernist Maronite cathedral just beside the Virgin. The interior of the church is built in a way, that your attention goes up and towards the window, where you have a dim look at the Virgin outside. Leave a Comment
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| | | | The other Travelors | Tip Rating: | | | | |
When you see the immaculately clean streets, the flowers growing in between avenues on those islands near the corniche you realize: Someone is doing some serious cleaning and gardening here. At night, I saw a guy who looked pretty South Indian to me do some sweeping: Bingo, he was from Tamil Nadu. Another day I chatted with a homesick Sri Lankan maid, who was about to go to a photoshop to send her little daughter and family at home her photos. She hadn’t seen her kid for 3 years. Her sister had been hospitalized because of the Tsunami disaster. These people come to Lebanon to make and save the money they otherwise never would—like 100 Dollars a month, which is an okay live-in housekeeper salary in the Middle East, if you don’t have any other expenses. (“Normal” Beirutis live on salaries more comparable to Western standards). They both didn’t look very happy—Think about the likely status of Hindus and Buddhists “multiple Gods and idolatry” (even though you find statues of “Mary-in-a-birdcage”, just like Shiva &Co. in India, at every corner) in a relatively modern, though predominantly monotheistic country doing the lowest work. The Sri Lankan and I wanted to stay in touch, but when I gave her my home number—she said she didn’t do e-mail—it turned out she had thought I lived there. Later I read some articles about the situation of live-in maids: Pretty scary, if you ended up with a loony boss. . Leave a Comment
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