This was on the Travel Channel last night (no doubt they'll replay it again sometime). I was absolutely blown away by the lifestyle of young Beirutis...they are trying very hard to emulate their European and American counterparts. They all look young, fit, fabulous and seem to spend most of their evenings clubbing. I'm sure this is in stark contrast to the lives of young people in South Lebanon. But Beirut pre-Lebanon II was beautiful, even where there were still traces of the last war in the bombed out buildings left standing amid the new construction.
What also blew me away was how, even at the onset of the aerial attacks by Israel, these 20-somethings continued to party. It almost appears as though this generation of Lebanese are so accustomed to violence that they accept it as a part of life. It's almost as though they only want to live for today, because who knows what tomorrow might bring.
Bourdain, for once, was not his usual wise-ass self. He was serious and very deliberate in the way he described his and his crew's 9 days of waiting for the State Dept. to get its act together to save them and the rest of the Americans who wanted to be evacuated. But he had nothing but high praise for the Marines who finally came with their troop loaders and got them to safety.
For anyone who missed it and who wants to see/hear part of this show, go here.
Miulang
What also blew me away was how, even at the onset of the aerial attacks by Israel, these 20-somethings continued to party. It almost appears as though this generation of Lebanese are so accustomed to violence that they accept it as a part of life. It's almost as though they only want to live for today, because who knows what tomorrow might bring.
Bourdain, for once, was not his usual wise-ass self. He was serious and very deliberate in the way he described his and his crew's 9 days of waiting for the State Dept. to get its act together to save them and the rest of the Americans who wanted to be evacuated. But he had nothing but high praise for the Marines who finally came with their troop loaders and got them to safety.
For anyone who missed it and who wants to see/hear part of this show, go here.
Miulang
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