On Saturday we explored a bit more of West Beirut. We got dropped off at Raouche, on the corniche, where there are two rocks in the bay, and walked down the smelly, gravelly path past bushes and concrete pieces of a breakwater, to where the waves were striking the cliffs and the rocks. There were swimmers, blue painted boats and, overhead, a parasailer. Then back along the corniche north towards the university. A brief stroll through the streets, getting more and more clearly studenty as we approached the university, with small cafes and sandwich shops, etc. We got permission from the guard to walk through the grounds and they were fine grounds indeed, on a hillside falling down to the sea, overhung with trees and with the reconstructed yellow stone buildings behind. After returning to the flat in Mar Mihkail we had a quick phone call with the Boddhisatva and the Forest Creature, presently in Manila, and then went out again to visit the Sursock museum (sadly, the floors we visited were not as good as the previous visit, and that exhibit had been taken down), and then onwards to buy rum babas and other essential supplies.
Overnight my sister got engaged, which was pleasing news, if not unexpected as there had been much discussion about the ring, of which pretended to be unaware, but did state her not-a-diamond preference.