Beirut, LEBANON

Beirut still shows enough scars from the civil war of the 80's to make you wonder how people coped and survived here amidst the violence. Here's army tanks and heavily armed soldiers in the city and you wonder if the war is still going on, or are they just waiting for the next war. The atmosphere is tense - no wonder the new downtown is empty of people, and full of soldiers and barb wire. These soldiers are among the most rude soldiers I have come across in any country. I have not found a single soldier who speaks English (not that I am looking for one), and somehow they think I'm a reporter - obviously reporters are not welcome here. Hezbollah (the terrorist branded group) and other opposition parties, are camping out in squatter tents around the new downtown. The brand new mosque won't open its doors until the killers of ex-prime minister Rafik Hariri has been brought to justice. This is a city with a volatile future. However, many major international hotels are going up like mushrooms along the beach front of downtown Beirut. Some people sure have faith in Beirut's future.

Regardless of being a war torn city - which is being renovated at a fast pace - Beirut is quite a nice city. Lovely setting between the rolling mountains inland and the Mediterranean sea. However, this city is between the good past (before the 80's civil war) and hopefully of a prosperous future. Right now there are too many tanks, rude soldiers, fenced off areas, and construction going on to recommend this place as a tourist destination. The National Museum does not allow photography, so I couldn't care less to go inside.

Over the next four days I'll explore Lebanon - Byblos to the north, Saide south of Beirut, Tyre to the very far south (close to the Israel border), and the famous Ancient Roman city of Baalbek...also referred to as the Roman Sun City in the north east, near the Syrian border.

After Lebanon I'll return to Damascus on the 28th to continue another 7 days around Syria before heading into Turkey.