Beirut

I just spent the most wonderful five days in Beirut. It was an extremely short trip, but it felt like much longer than it actually was. I saw a lot of close friends and family from home, including Raine, Rampurple, nibaq, and others, as well as some friends from Beirut. I got to do a little bit of everything, and it was a beautiful week.

Because it was National Day weekend in Kuwait, the city was, of course, crawling with Kuwaitis. But the good thing is you only see them in certain places (i.e. Phoenicia and downtown) and they never go to the really cool places, which is good. Besides, nobody ever thinks I’m Kuwaiti – even in Kuwait most of the time people assume I’m not – and so unless someone knows me personally they don’t give me a second “look” (besides which, most people I know don’t even recognize me these days because of my hair!). It was funny, every single person I came into contact with at the airport there, both upon arrival and departure, would take my passport, see that it’s Kuwaiti, look back up at me surprised and immediately say that they never would have guessed I was Kuwaiti. The guy at passport control when I arrived asked if I was originally Lebanese and I said no but that my grandmother is and he said he knew he saw a Lebanese vein in me. ;)

I absolutely love Beirut. It is my favourite Arab city, and Lebanon is the only Arab country, along with Kuwait, that I would seriously consider living in. Something about the place makes me feel at home there. I have been to Lebanon many times, and usually always go with someone who is from there, and so I get to see a side of Beirut that most visitors don't get to see - the local side. I obviously have a close personal affinity to Lebanon, other than just my own family connection, and it makes me happy that through that connection it'll always be a part of me.

All in all, a wonderful trip, and a refreshing break.