Fashion victims confined in Zahle

spikes...

... and needles.

 2012 was the year of the Spike in Lebanon.

Have you visited Aley Lately?

Aley used to be The Summer Destination of the lebanese, and the people coming for a breeze of fresh air, from the Gulf, before the Lebanese civil war.
After the war, the city regained some of its past glories but, sadly, the last two years have been pretty slow for its residents who depend on tourists. It is as if it is no more fashionable to go to Aley anymore, tourists prefer staying in Beirut, where the malls are plenty, or going to Broumana and Faraya, judged as trendier places nowadays. I pass by Aley often as I cross it to get to my home village, Rejmeh. It is only 35 minutes away from Beirut and other then the loud cafés and restaurants playing arabic music, the scenery and village are pretty nice.

Hotel Aley El Kabir

Hotel Aley Al Kabir - another angle.

Street views of Aley

Street views of Aley

Street views of Aley

interesting & beautiful abandoned house

An old house in the center of Aley main street

Newer (any idea of architect? time built?) interesting facades 

Going Out to the Mall

When you want to get a coffee with a friend, where do you go? to a café in the street or to the Mall.
When you want to get a gift, where do you go? Shops on the Street or to the Mall.
When you want to have a walk, where do you go? to the weather-stable (24 degrees) ambient temperature mall or to the street with unexpected weather surprises?
Going up the hill? the stairs? the escalators? or the lifts? Wallpapers or graffiti? Skies with clouds or ceiling with smart light design?

Mall Comfort or  Street Adventure Jungle? or is it both and there is a certain rule or a pattern?

Sassine Square

The man that turned out to be a tailor, the rePLACE Beirut Project and Urban Gentrification (Briefly)

As I am often in Geitawi, last saturday I was wandering around, taking pictures of street walls and posters for the rePLACE workshop, a mapping of Beirut project (pass by this Saturday to see the outcome of the workshop, or you can also still submit your route here.)
The classy posture of this man and his smile captured  my attention, I had to stop and talk to him and eventually take a portrait of him (not a snap, he wanted to take his time, stand nicely,... hand in the pocket or not,...). He reminded me of the Sartorialist Blog, I think he should be there :)

The gentrification of Beirut is another issue that should be talked about more also. It is somehow ironically slowed down (more in areas like Mar Mikhael and Gemmayze, but also Geitawi) by the old rent laws I previously mentioned here, so how can we have less gentrification and a fair rent law for all?

A Beirut map anchor point

 

Driving out of St. George Hospital Street, Elie Saba is on your left before getting back on the main road, just where there is traffic jam all the time. 

No matter the weather, he is always there, wearing shorts in summer and this hat during winter times, smoking his cigarette and watching TV.

He provides drive through services selling mainly cigarettes. Just park your car close enough so he does not have to stand up when giving you your pack.

Fashion Victims confined in a Window 2

The first post Fashion Victims confined in a Window is plastic in Athens, this is in Byblos.

Supermarket Goods to lift your spirituality

Candles - price tag says : Saint Maroun 3240 LL - N.D. Meduggorieh 3240 LL
Are they selling the candle or the Saint?

Shop Nothing - Ashrafieh, Beirut.

A Shop from"Back-in-the-time-when-I-was-your-age, Beirut was different" daddy says.

One of the many shops in Geitawi, Ashrafieh area, open daily and selling barely nothing.
As the area is getting more and more attention from real estate gurus, old rental contracts, are hopefully wishing they will be "thrown out" ( اخلاء ) at a higher price when keeping a business; even if the business is a few shoes dating from the 80's where you get the dust for free, if you ever consider the bargain.

Meanwhile, the shop owner, was eating "Banadoura Baladi" (local tomatoes) with labneh at the front desk!