Flag of Lebanon
Coins show the Cedar of Lebanon and writing in Arabic on one side and French on the other side. Handy languages to know are Arabic and French as well as English.
The name Lebanon comes from the Latin for the white mountain Mons Libanos, like the Hebrew Laban meaning white.
Beirut is on the western side of the country, on the East of the Mediterranean Sea. To the East are snow-capped mountains.
Beirut, meaning wells, comes from the Phoenecian word, similar to the Hebrew Be'rot.
Beirut, the capital city of Lebanon was once nicknamed the Paris of the East or Paris of the Middle East. (Also the Switzerland of the Middle East.)
Road signs are in standard Arabic and French. Sounds good. Unfortunately, the city has been hit by one calamity after another. Let's take a look at what has gone and what must be restored and rebuilt.
From Wikivoyage
 | WARNING: Following the explosions in the port on 4 August 2020, it is advised to refrain from traveling to Beirut to prevent hindering rescue services. If you already are in Beirut, consider leaving the city if not helping with disaster remediation efforts. Many buildings were completely leveled and damages were reported up to 10 km from the explosion, and as such there will obviously be a long time before life in Beirut is back to what it was before. |
Government travel advisories
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| (Information last updated Aug 2020) |
On August 4th 2020, according to the photos, videos and reports an explosion took place, a double explosion, thought to be first fireworks stored (sparked by a welder), then explosives stored.
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Destroyed, the grain silo on the left, crater left by explosion on the right. Photo from Wikipedia article on Beirut explosion. |
The blast destroyed the port, a grain silo, a ship, and many surrounding historic buildings. Let's see if we can add pictures to the names and names to the pictures and maps.
The city is currently off my travel list for several reasons.
1 Dangers of terrorism.
2 Covid19
3 Destruction of Museums and tourist sites
4 Destruction of hotels
What can you still see on the internet?
(Post being written. I have saved to preserve the draft. Come back tomorrow)
THE THREE MAIN LANDMARKS
The three main landmarks are Place Etoile, where the Parliament is situated, Martyr's Monument in Martyr's Square, and on the edge of the city, Pigeon Rocks, where patrons sit at cafes overlooking the rocks in the sea,
Beirut, Place Etoile
French for place or square of the star.
Martyr's Square
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| Martyr's Monument, Martyr's Square, Beirut Pigeon's Rock, Beirut, Lebanon  MUSEUMS |
Pre-history to medieval times. The museum was already destroyed in the Lebanon civil war, but many items inside were saved and the museum was restored. It was showing a video on the hour about how it had been restored.
This time, in 2020, however, the staff had no warning of the damage to come.
Sursock Museum
The home of the owner of the same name, built in the 1900s, on the street bearing the family name, alas wrecked before it could reach a centenary. Showed Lebanese art and modern art.
In 1912, the wealthy and prominent Lebanese aristocrat Nicolas Ibrahim Sursock built the private villa that now houses the museum. He decreed in his will that the villa be transformed into a museum. When he died in 1952, he bequeathed the villa to the city of Beirut.The museum opened its doors in 1961,
American University of Beirut (AUB) Museum
FREE!
The AUB has several thousands undergrads, postgrads and staff. The museums include the Archaeological Museum, Geological Museum, and Natural History Museum. Visitors must enter through the main campus entrance and show ID.
AUB view of the sea.
Romans
Map from Wikivoyage.
Cathedrals, Churches and Mosques
Church of Saint George Maronite and Mohammad Al-Amin Mosque side by side in Downtown Beirut
Synagogues
Maghen Abraham Synagogue
The name means shield of Abraham. Maghen Abraham like Maghen David. (Magen David is star of shield of David (the six point star used to decorate buildings and fabrics and used as jewellery).
The building is in the downtown or city centre and according to a report I read has escaped major damage.
Another synagogue elsewhere in Lebanon is closed for security reasons.
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| Deir Synagogue, Lebanon |
Around Lebanon
The country is relatively small, so no single journey to any other city should take more than two hours. Archaeological sites and architectural heritage include Baalbek, Byblos, Sidon, Tripoli, and Tyre. Most of these cities are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Other sites of notable interest are Jeita caves, Qadisha valley with its monasteries, and Zahle.
Lebanon
Wikivoyage says
WARNING: The U.S. State Department (last updated: May 29, 2015) specifically warns of threats to U.S. citizens in Beirut: "Protesters have blocked major roads to gain publicity for their causes, including the primary road between downtown Beirut and Rafiq Hariri International Airport temporarily without warning. Access to the airport may be cut off if the security situation deteriorates.[...]
The last wave of bombings in Beirut began in June 2013 and ended in mid-2014 with hundreds of dead and injured, including at least two U.S. citizens killed. The security services have made great progress in improving their capacity to detect and intercept terrorist attacks, resulting in a marked decline in suicide and car bombs, but many extremist groups remain actively engaged in planning attacks. These regularly involve suicide bombers, many of whom have detonated their vests or vehicles short of their targets.
Hizballah maintains a strong presence in parts of south Beirut, the Bekaa Valley, and areas in southern Lebanon. Hizballah has been the target of attacks by other extremist groups for their support of the Asad regime in Syria. The potential for violence between Hizballah and other extremist groups throughout the country remains a strong possibility. Hizballah and other groups have at times detained and extensively interrogated U.S. citizens or other foreigners for political motivations."
How lucky we are to be in other countries, and to be able to view on the internet as armchair travellers what was once a great city.
TRANSLATIONS
Abu/Abou Father (as in Abu Dhabi, father of the deer, capital and second biggest population city in the United Arab Emirates)
al - the (?)
ein - (water?)
Ras Beirut - Head of Beirut (Like the Hebrew word Rosh as in Rosh Hashanah, meaning head (of) the year, and Rosh Pinah school)
Tripoli - from Greek Tripolis, for three cities (tri as in tricycle, polis as in politics)
Useful Websites (Alphabetically)
Simple Wikipedia
https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beirut
Tripadvisor
Good pictures, comprehensive, reminded me that there is a wine and history tour.
https://www.tripadvisor.com.sg/Attractions-g294005-Activities-Beirut.html
Wikimedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martyrs%27_Monument,_Beirut
Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020_Beirut_explosions
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Jews_in_Lebanon
Wikitravel
https://wikitravel.org/en/Beirut
Wikivoyage
https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Beirut
Museums
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Museum_of_Beirut
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_University_of_Beirut
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sursock_Museum
Religious Buildings
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deir_el_Qamar_Synagogue
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beirut#/media/File:Maghen_Abraham_Synagogue.jpg
About the Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.
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