A couple of weeks ago, I had to spend a week in Beirut on business. Despite the official nature of my visit, I was able to go around the place on my last day.

It's a strange feeling you get when you're in Beirut. You feel it is a real city that is alive, unlike Dubai, which is more fabricated. Touring around the city, we were able to find ruins that go back to the period of the civil war and the Israeli occupation. Buildings that still full of bullet holes. You could actually imagine the situation, with tanks all around, fighters hiding behind walls waiting for a chance to fire their bazookas, and sniper aiming from rooftops and apartment windows.

But Lebanon was able to stand up on its feet very well after the wall. Reconstruction works were everywhere and Beirut was able to get back to its state of the most popular tourist destination.

Even food over there tastes different, alot better of course. Fortunately, I was able to visit places like "Hareesa" and "j'eeta". I washed I was able to see "B'albak" but it was too far and we actually didn't have enough time, maybe next time.

You can find more pictures from Beirut HERE. Some of these were taken by my buddy Jose.