We are now frequenting our neighbourhood forn every day for a lovely little breakfast. This is bookended by the sunset strolls in the afternoons. A very civilised lifestyle. The woman at the forn seems very taken with me, which is unusual as it’s usually the Gentleman Friend who is beloved by all. It’s rather nice […]
Older still
We went back to the Byblos site yesterday and were taken aback to find that it was even bigger than remembered. This time we went in the late afternoon so were less bent on avoiding sunburn (at least for the Gentleman Friend) and took time to explore some of the nooks. I say ‘nooks’. A […]
Day in East Beirut
Yesterday was Saturday and the Gentleman Friend and I woke up bright and early for a breakfast of knefeh and to be taken to Beirut. There, the GF was to participate in some beach cleaning while I was to meet a relative who is in town for work. I was meeting her for lunch so […]
2 days of glumness
A couple of days of mild glumness have passed, thanks to getting overly excited about potential work opportunities, and then disappointment when one didn’t come through and the other is taking far too long to resolve one way or the other. That said, I am equally unhappy whether I have too much work or too […]
Sunset strolls
We have taken to daily sunset strolls. All of Lebanon faces the west, the sun rises from behind the eastern mountains, Mount Lebanon and the Anti-Lebanon mountains. In Byblos, and perhaps all along the coast, people gather along the seashore to watch the sun sink into the sea and the cool evening breezes pick up. […]
80 people
Jbeil, Byblos, has been a human settlement for 8,000 years. This is, at the far extreme of the human lifetime, only about 80 lifetimes old or, on the other hand, 650 or so generations. It feels more dramatic in some ways than Egypt because of the feeling of continuity. Whereas ancient Egypt feels like the […]
Six fish
This was a day in three parts. First came a couple of requests for quotes, which is always nice as it gives me hope that work will continue and I won’t starve, a perpetual fear for a freelancer. One of these was from an organisation in Kenya, so I was especially pleased as I do […]
By the sea
Byblos reminds me a bit of being in Karachi. The flat is airy and pleasant, like those in Karachi, and the balcony is sunny and has a constant breeze under hot sun. We can’t see the sea, but nor could I growing up in Karachi. Generally, though, I have enjoyed pottering around a quiet, well […]
Newcomers in an ancient land
Here we are, the newest of newcomers to the oldest of cities, Byblos, the mother of books. We have a little flat just on the edge of the old city – I say the edge, but running along our street is a sort of wide ditch between two roads and in it are the remains […]
In Hamra
Yesterday the Gentleman Friend had to go into the office, in Hamra (West Beirut) and I decided to join him. I dropped him off near his office as he was running late for a meeting, and myself went to Amal Bohsal, an old sweet maker, to try their breakfast knefeh. This is basically a warm […]