LEBANON
Taking a leaf off of PJ O’ Rourke, Lebanon’s grand sights rival that of any of their Mediterranean neighbours. That its capital has since regained its reputation as a Paris of the East with the end of military unrest and civil war ending in relatively recent 1990, is impressive. Luxury and sophistication is at its hilt in Beirut—five star hotels abound in the city and areas such as Achrafieh and Gemayzeh attract a sophisticated party crowd. Equally fascinating is its ancient history, vestiges of which can still be seen in Tripoli where souks and hammams dating back to the Mamluk and Ottoman eras can be still be enjoyed. Those on a literary trail can visit Bcharre where you can visit the ancestral home of the poet Khalil Gibhran.
