Lebanon:
more than just SUP!
Words: Sarah Hebert
Photos: Fanatic SUP International
I had the opportunity to visit Lebanon in March, 2016. But all my friends were pretty worried about my
trip because of the unstable geopolitical situation. So, after a check on the Ministry of Interior's website,
I spotted the areas I needed to avoid before heading off. I eventually touched down next to the snowy
peaks of Mount Sannine overlooking a glistening Mediterranean Sea – my Lebanon adventure had
officially begun.
My hotel is located in the Muslim quarter. Christians and
Armenians are at the entrance to the city and it is very
interesting to see all these communities living next to each
other. That night I have an appointment with Astir, a local
girl who takes me for dinner in a famous Lebanese
restaurant. From here begins the discovery of many fabulous
restaurants. I can't resist the local culinary temptations:
green tabbouleh, eggplant puree, fermented cheese and
hummus.
For my first walk on the shoreline of Beirut I paid attention to
how I'm dressed in order to respect the different religions and
not grab people's attention. I headed out in long pants, a
hoodie and moved in the direction of St Georges Marina. On
the promenade I came across many girls clothed in a
contemporary and fashionable way! Besides my blonde hair, I
felt pretty discreet in my tennis shoes, tied back locks and no
makeup on my face. In short Beirut is a modern capital city
with western influences but preserving its cultural purity.
41
s
t
a
n d
u
p
p
a d
d
l
e
m
a
g
u
k