Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
A machinegun post, Beirut.
These were areas where there had been considerable fighting across what was described as
the 'green' line that demarcated the warring groups. Then there was a little confusion when
the driver began referring to the 'red' line.
The traffic was much heavier as we moved out of the city, passing a memorial comprising a
column of concrete with various embedded tanks. It stood about three or four stories high.
The traffic dropped off the closer we came to the border and the formalities at the bor-
der were completed within several short minutes. Once over the border it was easy going
through light traffic. It was a Friday and most businesses in Syria were closed. This was
clearly not the case in Beirut. Lebanon was clearly a different country, with a different so-
cial perspective.
You don't go to Beirut to see ancient sites and fine sandy beaches. Rather, you go to see
damaged buildings juxtaposed with new high rises. You go to see bullet holes, refugee
