I made you a mix tape!
Some Lebanese songs to go with the stories... enjoy!
Filtering by Category: Quickie
Hup Holland Hup
At the time of writing, it’s 2 for the Dutch team and 0 for the Italians. I still don’t really understand the excitement that football generates in this country, seeing that the only sport worth a national team is basketball, but tonight there truly is something at stake. No, I don’t say that because it’s my own national team playing. It’s because of their opponent. Look at this… 1968 Italy wins European Championship. and 1968 ‘Operation Gift’: Israel Defense Forces (IDF) commando raid on Beirut International Airport.
1982 Italy wins the World Cup. and 1982 ‘Operation Peace of Galilee’ / First Lebanon War: Israeli invasion of Lebanon, up to and including Beirut, resulting in the occupation of South Lebanon (liberated in 2000).
2006 Italy wins the World Cup. and 2006 ‘Second Lebanon War’. Israel attempts to invade Lebanon, bombs large parts of South Lebanon, Southern Suburbs of Beirut and Bekaa.
See the pattern? It’s mainly for safety reasons that I want the Dutch team to win…
Point of view
Should new clashes / another civil war break out, I know I have a place from where to watch it all :
Beirut, as seen from the mountains. The workers at the construction site told me I could come and enjoy the view from there. They even promised me the comfy chair.
Photo taken in Fanar, east of Beirut, May 18th 2008.
You can laugh about it if you want
Generally accepted definition of parallel lines: ‘Two lines on a plane that are always the same distance apart and never intersect’ (or any variation hereof).
Definition of parallel lines (so my friends tell me) in a very, very strict religious school here in Beirut:
‘Two lines on a plane that are always the same distance apart and never intersect, unless God wills it’.
Obviously, in their eyes, God has nothing on mortal mathematicians naming things. That’s his job.
The sea, and three boys on a bike
“Hey Miss! Want to take our picture?!?” the three boys yelled, and then they raced off, the biggest boy pedaling, the smallest one barely controlling the handlebars.
(Behind me, three red tables with matching chairs and umbrellas were waiting for customers, plastic flower-pieces glued to the tablecloth. A hot afternoon is no time for coffee or arguileh, apparently).
Photo taken on the corniche in Saida, April 8th 2008.