one day in lebanon: from batroun to saida

-----

the following is a diary of one day in lebanon - a trip that spanned from batroun to saida.

obviously, i don't recommend visitng all the locations on the same day, unless you've been to them several times before, as each of them is a gem on its own. (i also don't recommend being the one who drives ... but that's a story for another post.)

(disclaimer: please note that the times are not accurate. in most cases, they have been rounded to the hour, but even that is based on memory ... which is extremely fickle to begin with.)

---

> 7:00am Leave home. Drive north to Batroun in order to drop of some things at some family friends.

> 8:00am Arrive in Batroun. Have breakfast with friends (knafé, in case you are wondering).

> 9:00am Leave Batroun. Drive south.

> 10:00am Arrive / Leave a village above Jbeil. Has one of the better views in Lebanon - I always try to pass by when I 1) am in the area 2) have enough time.

> 11:00am Arrive in downtown Beirut (in and around the camps). It has been interesting talking to some of the people there.

> 12:00pm Pass by Abu Naji on Bliss street and get some of the world's best nescafe.

> 1:00pm Pass by Barbir (Mazra3a) - pick up some things from my mother's uncle. Go to Bir Hassan and have a quick lunch with a school friend.

> 2:00pm Continue driving south.

> 3:00pm Arrive in Baakline. Pass by a very close friend whom I've known for 12 years. Go around town with friend, talk to people I got to know in the many days I have spent there over the past years and whom I haven't seen in a while. The drive to / from Baakline is great by the way, in case if you've never done it.

> 6:00pm Leave Baakline. Drive down to the coast, and continue driving south.

> 7:00pm Arrive in Saida. Go around the city with cousin. Have dinner with relatives.

> 9:00pm Leave saida.

> 10:00pm Arrive in Achrafieh. Go with group of friends to bar.

> 1:00am Leave. Arrive home 15 minutes later.

----