Fruit Parfait

This parfait is huge and stuffed with fresh fruit. Strawberries, kiwi, cherries, cantaloupe, plums, bananas, mango, peaches, apples, and apricots. There's also some kind of crumbly cheese and nuts. They are amazing and inexpensive. I will miss the fruit parfaits availiable throughout Lebanon....especially the ones from this shop in south Beirut.

Over the Top

I was visiting a friend the other day for lunch and she told me to stop on the 9th floor of her building for a peek at her neighbor's entranceway. Luckily I had my camera because this is what I saw:

The walls are covered in silver glitter. I'll try to get more pictures next time I go over there as that is only a very small taste of the decor in that entranceway.

Last weekend we went out to a place called The Music Hall. It's a place like no other. Live acts interspersed with dj club-like music whilst you drink and dance your heart out (on/around your table). The acts were varied and included cover bands based on Tom Jones, Beyonce, Heart, and Latin groove with plenty of Arabic (traditional and pop) thrown in. My personal favourtie was the Boney M cover band:


I'd post incriminating photos of myself and all of my friends but "what happens at Music Hall, stays at Music Hall."

They Still Believe

Happy Belated Easter!

Cafe Younes

This coffee shope is the best! The coffee is roasted next door and very very good. They also have great homemade pancakes and my favourite bagel, grilled halloum with tomato, cucumber, and fresh mint. And, it's a Beirut institution that survived the war. I will miss Cafe Younes!

Skiing at Faraya

First time on skis:


Off they go:


The Bunny Hill:


Finishing his first run:


Moving on to harder runs. You can see them coming down with Tigerpapa (he's wearing orange):


Looking good:


On the way home:


Starbucks at the end of the day:


I too donned the skis (after 20 years!) and enjoyed the day out with my family even though thoughts of Japan were never far from my mind.

Inexpensive Mani/Pedi

I'm blogging from my iPhone for the first time...from the nail salon!
My next entry for things I will miss from Beirut. $20 for an extremely good manicure/pedicure. And that includes tip.

4 months

We gave our 2-months notice on our apartment yesterday. We will move into a serviced apartment for May/June and then it's back to Japan (probably Tokyo). I can't believe we only have 4 more months in Beirut. So, on that note, I will start to blog about all of the things I will miss (or NOT miss) about this crazy place.

Today as I was walking home from a coffee shop I decided to stop in at one of the many fresh fruit/veggie stalls in my neighborhood to pick up a few things. The guy running the shop knows me and always teases me about my lack of Arabic. I always comment that there is no room in my head for Arabic because of the Japanese rattling around in there. Today he said, "konnichiwa". I will miss the friendliness of my neighborhood and the good-natured teasing of the local shopkeepers. I will also miss the fact that I can buy locally grown and organic fruit and vegetables for a pittance. Today it was avocados, red onions, bananas, strawberries, potatoes, baby carrots, ginger, pears, and some apples for less than $8!