+961

A Lebanese Blog

Category: Lebanon

  • Saida’s Palaces

    Although it is the third largest city in Lebanon, but I’ve never went to Saida and made a tour in the city until a few weeks ago. It might not be the best place in Lebanon but WOW, I was impressed!

    Call me an ignorant, but I really didn’t even know there was a gorgeous old city there with people living in it! The streets are so tight and cozy, at some places they’re barely 2 meters wide.

    http://plus961.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/OldSouk_small.jpg
    Click to enlarge

    I was also surprised to know that the Audi family (yes those of Bank Audi) were involved in manufacturing soap bars in the old city of Saida, and they have actually established a soap museum in what used to be their soap factory.

    http://plus961.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/SoapMuseum_small.jpg
    Click to enlarge

    The museum is maintained by “Fondation Audi“. If you get to visit it, you will be able to also the Audi’s palace since the museum is located on the ground floor of it, and they’re both open to the public.

    Oh and not only the Audi’s are famous there, but also the Debbane family! They have a great palace in Saida, which is nearly 300 years old, and it is also open to the public. Check its entrance in the photo below.

    http://plus961.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/DebbanePalace_small.jpg
    Click to enlarge

    It’s awesome from the inside but unfortunately I was not able to take good photos there. However, you can always refer to the Debbane Foundation’s website and preview the available photos there, although I believe they do NO justice to the palace.

    I do recommend that you visit Saida in case you still have not done it yet, and make sure to go through the old souk. But, if you’re looking for luxurious places to have lunch and stuff, then Saida is SO NOT for you.

    http://plus961.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/Street_small.jpg
    Click to enlarge

  • Half a million is gone!

    I was informed today that the population in Lebanon has decreased to 3.5 million this year knowing that we were around 4 million according to the statistics done in 1998.

    So that’s a half of a million decrease within 10 years! However, you will not find that number huge if you take into consideration the following facts:

    1. $44 Billion in debt
    2. We have no president, and we don’t give a damn about it
    3. Geagea is out of prison
    4. Nasrallah declared a worldwide war
    5. Aoun is back from Paris
    6. Wiam Wahhab wants to fire rockets at Walid Jounblat’s bedroom
    7. Naser Qandeel is back on TV
    8. It takes a lifetime for Saad Hariri to make a speech

    And the list goes on…

    By the way, according to Wikipedia,Lebanon’s population is exactly 4,196,453 right now, and it might have increased by 1 or 2 while I am writing this post. I never knew somebody has done such an accurate study about us before!!

    Oh and talking about wikipedia, check this out if you want to get some “real” data about Lebanon.

  • Beirut by my lens

    Click on the photos to enlarge

    Bachoura
    From Azariyyeh Tower

    Murr Tower
    Murr Tower

    Ras El-Nabeh
    Ras El-Nabeh

     

  • Beirut on fire!

    Beirut was still was on fire tonight because Nabih Berri was set to appear on TV, knowing that he asked his followers 2 days ago NOT to fire weapons during his interview.

    One of my friends told me that 7 RPGs have been fired in the air up till now (1 hour and a half after starting the interview) and people heard their massive sound everywhere in Beirut, I just wonder what could have they done if he asked them to use their guns…

    The Internal Security Forces were of course watching for anything unusual in the streets 😉

  • This is Beirut…