Lebanon has a soft spot in my heart. Spending a few months there in 2010 was so enriching, enlightening and full of culture. I felt like I was really experiencing something… learning to communicate with a completely different culture with a new set of letters and sounds.

I mean to start off, I must say that I love Lebanese food. I don’t know how people go through their lives without trying it, quite honestly. Man3oushé, the little pastries, the falafel, the lebneh, the zatar, the taboulé…. everything is just so fantastic. Places like Faysal’s just made every stop pure magic. Lebanese pastry heaven .Yes, I even found a cupcake shop, Sugar Daddy‘s. I’m ridiculous.

There were so many rigorous nights in Beirut, often starting off at  Li Beirut in the Hamra district and then roaming the streets left and right popping into new and old places— ending up on the rugged streets of Gemmayze then sipping on a few Almaza’s before rushing off to our air conditioned homes and dozing off into dreams.

We took many small trips to different regions of Lebanon, including the Cedars, Balbaak and the southern parts of the country. As its is so small, it was so easy to go somewhere only for a day or two. I just loved experiencing the different ways of life in different regions that were all neighbors. There is a passion in Lebanon that I am not sure exists anywhere else.

Just roaming the streets that were so diverse, switching from luxury shops or cute cafés to empty spaces or ice cream stands. Every blink you could see something different.

By the end of my stay it is safe to say that I was hummus-ed out.

I can’t wait to go back to Beirut again.

{COMING SOON: FAVORITE PLACES & SPACES IN BEIRUT}