Thursday, August 4, 2011

LEBANON

BATROUN
Sights & Sites
Ixsir Winery – Basbina (about 7 miles outside Batroun); 011-961-7-163-1613; ixsir.com.lb; from outside, only restored 17th Century manor is visible; deep beneath, at spiral staircase bottom, among world’s most environmentally sensitive winemaking facilities; e.g., huge sky panels flood underground rooms with sunlight, decreasing need for electricity.

BYBLOS
Bars & Nightclubs
Edde Sands – just south of city center; 011-961-9-546-666; eddesands.com; beach club for dance parties and spa.

Hotels
Hotel Canari de Byblos – Voie 13, Highway Exit; 011-961-9-550-550; canaridebyblos.com; 33 clean, if spare, rooms with flat-screen tvs, private balconies, and breakfast.

Restaurants
Bab El Mina – Port de Jbeil; 011-961-9-540-475; babelmina.com; for fresh sea bass.
Locanda a la Granda – Old Souk; 011-961-9-944-333; fusion-style cuisine with amazing rampart views.
Mother – Old Souk; 011-961-9-951-901; steak and potatoes with jazz music and alfresco dining in town center.
Pierre & Friends – 10-minute drive north of Byblos; 011-961-3-352-930; seaside bar that serves barbecue.

Services
Edde Sands – just south of city center; 011-961-9-546-666; eddesands.com; beach club for dance parties and spa (open year round).

Shopping
Reynaldo & Some Ideas – Old Souk; 011-961-3-261-217; knick-knacks and Lebanese kitsch.

Sights & Sites
Citadel – built by Crusaders in 12th Century from indigenous limestone and Roman structures’s remains; surrounded by moat.

TRIPOLI
Sights & Sites
Rachid Karami International Fair – Maraad (city's western edge); 011-961-6-600-430 or 011-961-6-600-427; lebanon-fair.com; designed by Oscar Niemeyer but construction ceased in 1975 when violence broke out and never were re-started; now decaying; may have to work hard to convince security guards to let you in.

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