BritinBeirut

On police and cars

I'm about to state a Lebanese truism: Where there is a traffic jam there is a policeman. Or four. Seemingly without rhyme or reason Lebanese traffic police don't actually do much beyond taking the place of traffic lights, or marshaling cars around, or more accurately through, roundabouts. I've come to the conclusion that the ISF (Internal Security Forces) have a deep, institutionalized fear of traffic lights. Rather than allow these heinous machines to do their (incredibly complex) j

The Party of God, paintball and a genuine appreciation for Almaza

Around two years ago I was sat with a group of friends in Gemmayze’s Le Rouge. It was an eclectic group, it usually is. One of us had flown in from out of town for a few days and was being unusually noncommittal when we invited him out for a few drinks the following night. After some gentle persuasion he spilt the beans, he was in town for a story a friend was writing for GQ. Now, GQ’s a great magazine and everyone’s curiosity was peaked. Gradually, the story came out. A friend of hi

Cabin fever

So it finally happened to me … After seven-ish years in Lebanon, I got stuck in an elevator during a power cut. It was coming; I’d ridden my luck for too long. It was a couple of nights ago as I was coming home after dinner with my friends and a few après-food drinks (digestifs certainly isn’t the right word, far too sophisticated). I’d timed it to perfection, I had ten minutes until the cut, or so I thought. Now, my apartment block is (much to my shame, as it looks like so