Who's going to Beirut?

[tdew]

From USA today:
Beirut is reborn as a glitzy playground for tourists

BEIRUT — On a mild Tuesday evening in downtown Beirut, the city's young and beautiful are bellying up to the hottest night spot, the bohemian Gemmayzeh neighborhood. Model-chic Beiruti women, sporting skinny pants, stiletto boots and cascading tresses, cluster in groups or with dates inside the hip bars, pubs and restaurants that line this milder Middle East version of Bourbon St. Not far away, in the Old World-style Albergo boutique hotel, visiting Michelin-starred chefs from France are dishing out meals for a sold-out crowd that takes Beirut's sophisticated dining scene for granted.

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/desti...htm?csp=travel

[Kairho]

We will be there in September, specific dates still not determined. Looking forward to it and also the critical decision as to which city to fly home from, Beirut or Damascus. Leaning towards the latter, allowing time if its fabulous souk.

[tdew]

Originally Posted by Kairho

We will be there in September, specific dates still not determined. Looking forward to it and also the critical decision as to which city to fly home from, Beirut or Damascus. Leaning towards the latter, allowing time if its fabulous souk.

You're much more adventurous than I am!

[Ned]

The people of Lebanon are wonderful, friendly and warm, whether Christians or Muslims. That being said, Lebanon is still on the State Department's Travel Warning List. Mostly the warning is still there because the US' Lebanonese Embassy's ability to reach all areas of Lebanon in time of trouble continues to be severely limited.

Hizballah is still moderately active in Lebanon and US citizens must be aware and therefore continually vigilant about that. They are not a group to take lightly.

While Beirut is relatively safe, anywhere near the Refuge camps is extremely dangerous, in my opinion, and those who I trust concerning Middle East travel. While violent crime in Beirut is rare, pickpocketing and purse snatching are a common, everyday occurrence there.

The Beirut-Damascus highway is relatively safe and the 2 cities are about 55 miles apart.

That being said, for political and personal reasons I won't travel to Damascus. As far as I'm concerned Syria is still a country which sponsors terrorism, and I narrowly escaped being hurt while traveling in Israel when the Syrians shelled some buses (I was in one.) in Israel not far from the Golan Heights in the '60s. Yes I know it's a long time ago, but I'm not about to forget that. Until Syria makes peace with Israel, not just a truce as is currently in place, I'll miss Damascus. I've since been back to the border between the countries, and at that time was not shelled or shot at.

[Kairho]

Also on State's Travel Warning List: Colombia, Philippines, Kenya, Israel and a few dozen others.

More dangerous than most of those: America's highways.

[Ned]

Originally Posted by Kairho

Also on State's Travel Warning List: Colombia, Philippines, Kenya, Israel and a few dozen others.

More dangerous than most of those: America's highways.

Don't you think that's a bit of an exaggeration. More people may die on America's highways than being an American tourist in those countries, but numbers have a lot to do with that, such as there are a lot of American highways, and yet those countries you mentioned do have dangerous places in them and real dangers to tourists.

As you are aware, we go to Israel as often as possible. We've visited Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey, Egypt (small portion - not main sites - we hope to really see Egypt in the next few years), and Colombia. I would really like to go to Kenya on a safari.

There are places in Colombia we avoided like the plague as they just aren't safe at all. From what people tell me who run photo safaris in Kenya, there are plenty of places in the country to avoid.

There are places in Israel I avoid due to their danger. I'm very aware of the dangers in Israel and where I should avoid, despite the fact there are Israelis who live with the danger precisely in the locations I avoid. I don't see a point at my going there, and to prove what.

The State Department warnings are just that, warnings. They don't say don't go to those countries. They say if you go, these are the potential problems and you need to be alert to them.

As I mentioned the Lebanese are wonderful people in general, and Beirut is really good to visit, but at the same time, the refugee camps and the areas they are in are dangerous and I would avoid them completely. As the State Department says, non-violent crime such as pickpocketing and purse snatching is a daily event in Beirut and it pays to be very careful about that. The same is true in Quito, Ecuador. There were several people we heard from in our hotel there who were pickpocketed and two who had the straps of their pocketbook cut and the purse snatched. Those State Department warnings are accurate. It doesn't mean you or I should stay away. It does mean, and I agree, that visitors to Beirut should be vigilant, while enjoying themselves. I think you can do both.

As far as Syria goes, my aversion there is exactly as mentioned; anger at the country, and political reasons.

I think to dismiss the State Department warnings as overwrought or over-the-top is a mistake. There are real facts behind their warnings, and though they are written in such a way as to "cover their a$$" if something happens, that doesn't mean anyone should ignore them in my opinion.

[lbleem32]

I too have traveled in and out of the middle east, before and after 9-11. I have spent some really good times in Beirut, Isreal, Mexico City, Rio, Egypt, and some really ****ty times in Philidelphia, Detroit, London, and Paris.... While, I do take some security precautions when traveling in places like Beirut, and Mexico City, I really have never felt "in danger." I was once mugged in Philidelphia, by a nut with a gun, was pick pocketed in London, and had a major car accident in Paris...... Seems we let our security down when we are in cities that the State Department doesn't have on their list..... BTW, I live in Los Angles, I think it is safer to travel to Southern Lebenon, than it is to travel to Compton...... However, when I travel to the middle east, I always do so with my Brazilian Passport, not my American one..... A soccer jearsy is also really good to wear in the middle east, as it shows what country you may be from, even if you are not from there.......

[Ned]

There aren't real Manchester United fans in the Middle East. Old Trafford is the best soccer venue in the world.

My experience in the Middle East hasn't been as good as yours with regard to danger.

My sons just missed being blown up in a Jerusalem market by a suicide bomber. I just missed being blown up near Masada outside of Jerusalem by an old IED. Members of a group I was traveling with were shot at in the Golen Heights. We were among the random targets in a Gaza missile launch while on the road. I won't go to Lebanon for political reasons. I've never had problems in Jordan or Egypt and find the people in both countries terrific.

I agree with you about Compton. I've been mugged in Philadelphia too, quite some time ago. Recently the City's gotten a lot safer, though there are still some "hot" spots, and frankly most of the City is very safe.

The refereeing in the World Cup has been mediocre overall, about as bad as I've ever seen, with performances by 3 referees and 3 assistant referees, in particular, being absolutely disgraceful. (I'm a USSF referee.)

Originally Posted by lbleem32

I too have traveled in and out of the middle east, before and after 9-11. I have spent some really good times in Beirut, Isreal, Mexico City, Rio, Egypt, and some really ****ty times in Philidelphia, Detroit, London, and Paris.... While, I do take some security precautions when traveling in places like Beirut, and Mexico City, I really have never felt "in danger." I was once mugged in Philidelphia, by a nut with a gun, was pick pocketed in London, and had a major car accident in Paris...... Seems we let our security down when we are in cities that the State Department doesn't have on their list..... BTW, I live in Los Angles, I think it is safer to travel to Southern Lebenon, than it is to travel to Compton...... However, when I travel to the middle east, I always do so with my Brazilian Passport, not my American one..... A soccer jearsy is also really good to wear in the middle east, as it shows what country you may be from, even if you are not from there.......

[mercwyn]

I loved Beirut, even though I had a number of friends who were killed when the Marine Barracks were bombed. My experience of Beirut is that most people were friendly and helpful however there are some very bad people in and around Beirut. Some come from the refugee camps, some come from Syria and Iraq and some are locals. One cannot afford to let one's guard down while in Beirut.

I felt fairly safe in Beirut, safer than I did in Israel but not as safe as I felt in Egypt, Morocco, Jordan or Turkey. I won't compare it to Syria where I felt like I was under armed escort all the time and couldn't see anything other than what the government had in mind.