Our trip to Beirut was already scheduled to layover in Cairo, so we booked a couple of extra days in Cairo on the way back and go see the Pyramids. Our flight also had a layover in NYC for 7hrs so we decided to make the most of it and hopped on the subway and hit up Manhattan for the afternoon.
Em in NY Times Square
We had just enough time to do a whirlwind tour of the major buildings in Manhattan, none which would be complete without a trip to see the Empire State Building. We wanted to see many other things, but our time was short and we had many more adventures coming our way on the other side of the globe.
To commemorate our 2 year wedding anniversary (Sept 2), we took a horse-drawn carriage ride around Central Park.....then we flew NYC to Cairo and then caught another flight to Beirut....which took considerably longer than it did for me to type this sentence.
This is the road leading to my sister's summer home in the mountains. This road was built by her husband and the neighborhood boys during the civil war of the 80's as an alternate route to town to get groceries, etc.
Our first morning after the long voyage started off with a traditional Lebanese breakfast with the family on the veranda. Here's Em with our niece Anna and nephew Thomas.
For those of you who know Anna, this pic says it all! She's always being silly and the center of attention. So cute.
They are working on a massive project in their yard. Hand-cut and hand-laid stone walls, walkways, decorative pools, and a waterfall will transform this into the ultimate summer relaxation spot. They already have a nice grapevine and figs that are the best you have ever eaten. Maybe they will let us come retire there someday??
Karen and the kids in the gondola heading up to Harissa.
The view of Jounieh (first suburb north of Beirut - where my sister's family lives during the winter when it is too cold in the mountains) from the Gondola....with a great view of the lovely Mediterranean.
After the gondola, we stopped off in a cafe for some Baklava....with oh so many choices. I had to try a few of each, since this is one of my favorite deserts of all time. Come to think of it, I think I forgot to share with Em. ;)
Walking around in downtown Beirut, you will find some ancient Roman ruins that were discovered under the city during the rebuilding after Lebanon's civil war. They excavated this old bath house and preserved the area against future construction.
Here is a typical steet in downtown Beirut. The storefronts have all been rebuilt and the roads have been converted to pedestrian walkways. During the night, these coffee shops and restaurants are packed, and the outdoor seating is the place to be.
Sadly, we are brought back to the reality of war as we come upon the last enshrined steps taken by Prime Minister Rafik Hariri before he was assassinated in 2005.
This beautiful mosque was recently finished in honor of Hariri. It is by far one of the biggest and nicest in Lebanon.
The inside of the Hariri mosque is adorned with elaborate chandeliers and ornate decorations.
There are still a few remnants of the civil war, albeit much less than when I visited in 2004. The city is constantly rebuilding. It was intriguing to witness the juxtaposition of old scars and new beginnings.
Em and Karen are posing by the Parliment building on a gorgeous sunny day.
We finished our day downtown with a long promenade on the waterfront and soaked in the sights of some amazing rock structures just off the coast.
.....more Beirut pics to come....then on to Cairo....
