Beirut’s pick’n’mix existence

Having been in Beirut for 2 weeks now I felt I should probably get down to the usual cliched first impressions-type post….here it is.

1. When I left the airport at 4am, with Muhammed to find the hostel, my happiness at finally arriving was jarred suddenly by 3 huge armed tanks and lots of soldiers somewhere along the motorway. The naivety most European people, or maybe just the British?, have towards an Armies presence is probably widespread, given that I hardly ever see the British Army anywhere – all i know is they wear khaki….