The King of Falafels

Today we visited the King of Falafels, AbulAli, at the classic falafel place "Barbar" here in the Hamra District. His Falafels are the blueprint for what all other falafels in the world should try to copy. Some do it better than others, but there can only be one king and he resides here in Beirut.

 

The King of Falafels working in the speed of light



All Good News

It's a sunny day in Beirut, and it's my mother-in-law's birthday. We'll go downtown to celebrate her over lunch later today. It's a wonderful day, packed with good news.

Good news 1: Our bag has arrived to Lebanon! It took my husband a late night trip to the airport and some negotiations with a corrupt airport official but finally he got the bag back. My husband came back around midnight and we had a little celebration for the bag.

Good news 2: In Lebanon, the power company shuts the electric off three hours each day, alternating the intervals every day. The hotels and shops have their own generators, but for the life at home, you learn to live around the power cuts. You know when to cook, have access to the internet, do laundry, and other things, and you avoid going into an elevator when you know the power might be cut any minute.
So I asked, "when is the power being cut today?" and it turns out that the building now has a generator that my parents-in-law have bought themself into. It is luxury redefined!

I've spent the morning with my mother-in-law to run errands in Hamra. We've met the retired judge, the old man from the money exchange, and a guy in a gold shop that has a cousin in Vasteras. It's very nice to meet people and I realise I learn more and more Arabic for every day.

New Year's Eve on Hamra Street

(In English below)
När vi är i Beirut bor vi i stadens hjärta - Hamra Street, mot Manara-hållet. Min mans gamla klasskamrat från grundskolan, Mazen Sukkarieh, som är både poet, fotomodell och författare, skickade en ovanlig nyårsinbjudan över Facebook - se nedan. Det blir kul!

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When we're in Beyrut, we stay in the heart of the city - Hamra Street, on the Manara side. My husband's former class mate Mazen Sukkarieh, a poet, model and writer, sent an unortodox New Year's invitation, see below. It will be fun!

Saturday, December 31, 2011 9:00pm until 5:00am

STREETS OF HAMRA, HAMRA MAIN STREET / MAKDESSI STREET, Beirut, Lebanon

CELEBRATE NEW YEAR ON THE STREETS OF BEIRUT!!! Hello BEIRUT! So here we are days away from 2012 and a bunch of us were sitting wondering what to do on this special night. We didn't want to do the SAME THING as ALWAYS: a club, a family gathering, a dinner, BLA BLA BLA. And IT SUDDENLY HIT US! We basically did everything on the streets of Beirut but we never consciously, randomly, in an unplanned, unorganized, JUST DO IT type of way, PARTIED on its streets. What could be more fitting than a New Year on the streets of Beirut!!!!! So we decided this is where we want to be and Hamra is our destination. And you know what? We think EVERYONE should do the same. Come join us any which way you want, dressed in whatever you feel is right and countdown with us. Who are we? You probably won't even know, we're just part of the unplanned and unorganized who decided to party on the streets of Beirut this new year. Our meeting point? Hamra STREET where else of course; all through main street Hamra and Makdesi. Conditions are simple: NO harassment (tolteeshing), no fights and DON'T drink and drive. One last thing: In Italy they exchange oranges; in Spain they eat grapes; in Paris Foie Gras and Champaign and in Beirut we suggest you bring ANYTHING RED and exchange it with ANYONE! The busy street in Ras Beirut.