Lebanon - day 1 proper
Here we are then, in Beirut. It`s raining, there are frequent short power cuts (which should be interesting in a concert situation!!) and too much GREAT food!
The trip from the airport took us through the Hezbollah enclave - not dangerous but definitely a character of its own. The roads are hopeless - and the drivers - well, they are the craziest I have ever seen!! The first big detail impression was the view of the city is that of the balconies on the apartment complexes - especially in the Moslem areas - they have EXTERNAL curtains, including pelmet ruffles!! Very odd to western eyes but obviously the norm here! Then back to the roads - not a set of traffic lights ANYWHERE, everyone just does what they please (there IS a basic "drive on the right" etiquette, but thats about the only visible adherence to any driving convention!). And when it rains (due to the very frequent and fast changes in altitude) they become instant rivers.
The tour organizer, Wadih, is a professional stage builder, and seems to know everyone. He has taken good care of us, finding us some comfortable digs in a school in the mountains - with fair internet connection. Spectacular scenery punctuated by bombed-out buildings and haphazard developments that have occurred since the civil war.
Our first concert tonight is in one of the premier concert locations in the city.
We have to be careful what we say - in some places we can be very forceful in others very discreet - but this isn't like Turkey where the former can be in obviously secular and Christian places, and the latter in Moslem places - here the Moslem places can be very open to the message, while the conservative Christian places can be more closed - somewhat weird.
Health wise we are all doing better - the thumb is now properly on the mend, Charles felt BAD yesterday but is better today, Chris - well, he's a drummer, so pray for him. Jon, however, had a sleepless night, so he could do with some prayer please.
Anyway, Wadih has just called and we must go and eat - again!!!
I`ll write more tomorrow :-)
The trip from the airport took us through the Hezbollah enclave - not dangerous but definitely a character of its own. The roads are hopeless - and the drivers - well, they are the craziest I have ever seen!! The first big detail impression was the view of the city is that of the balconies on the apartment complexes - especially in the Moslem areas - they have EXTERNAL curtains, including pelmet ruffles!! Very odd to western eyes but obviously the norm here! Then back to the roads - not a set of traffic lights ANYWHERE, everyone just does what they please (there IS a basic "drive on the right" etiquette, but thats about the only visible adherence to any driving convention!). And when it rains (due to the very frequent and fast changes in altitude) they become instant rivers.
The tour organizer, Wadih, is a professional stage builder, and seems to know everyone. He has taken good care of us, finding us some comfortable digs in a school in the mountains - with fair internet connection. Spectacular scenery punctuated by bombed-out buildings and haphazard developments that have occurred since the civil war.
Our first concert tonight is in one of the premier concert locations in the city.
We have to be careful what we say - in some places we can be very forceful in others very discreet - but this isn't like Turkey where the former can be in obviously secular and Christian places, and the latter in Moslem places - here the Moslem places can be very open to the message, while the conservative Christian places can be more closed - somewhat weird.
Health wise we are all doing better - the thumb is now properly on the mend, Charles felt BAD yesterday but is better today, Chris - well, he's a drummer, so pray for him. Jon, however, had a sleepless night, so he could do with some prayer please.
Anyway, Wadih has just called and we must go and eat - again!!!
I`ll write more tomorrow :-)
posted by Martin Bartlett at 11:13 AM
2 Comments:
Thanks for the updates! Tell Jon I said hi. Lots of people here praying for you guys. And, yes, you have my permission to bug Jon! :)
But you're not biased at all are you Martin? I'm reporting you to the drummer's union. You'll be hearing from my rep very soon (it's Neil Peart so you better watch out, he'll eat you alive).
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