To Lebanon (and elsewhere?)
Tomorrow, Bill the spouse and I will drive from Virginia to Philadelphia, leave our car there with Lorna, then fly to Lebanon for a couple of months. Bill has a university-exchange arrangement there with AUB, and I'll be--
Well, I'm not quite sure what, right now.
Maybe I'll sit by the Mediterranean and finish the last three chapters of my book about Africa?
Maybe I'll go to Iraq?
Iran? Turkey? Syria? (Almost certainly, that.) Palestine/Israel?
Look, it's just been hard enough for me to figure how to get organized to be in Lebanon for two months without making further plans. Even if I just sit in Beirut it'll be interesting.
Yeah, I have a few ideas of things to do. You can find out what they are if you keep reading JWN. But from Sunday on, my main base will be somewhere in the Middle East.
Have a safe trip.
Whatever you do, enjoy the trip.
good luck and happy travelling
Enoy your time in Lebanon (wish I could be there for 2 months). I suggest to try something different and off the beaten track. Try to systematically explore the Mamluk mosques and relics in Tripoli (a copy in hand of "The Architecture of the Mamluk City of Tripoli" would be useful!), or the main mosque in Saida (it was recognized by an Agha Khan prize for the restoration work following it devastation in the 1982 Isreali invasion). As you may know both cities are pretty conservative but you may find fascinating social clues into what is happening in the region at large. Make sure you try the sweets in both towns! (Lebanese sweets and baklava are undoubtly the best ini the region). Of course as someone from Ras Beirut I hope you would enjoy the hospitality of my hometown. For sweets in Beirut try Bahsali (forget about the rest and don't try to lose weight there). A bookstore that I frequent is on Bliss street opposite the entry to the international college (IC). It is run by the geha family (no relation) and has a good collection of contemporary arabic books that you may want to check.
That's wonderful news, Helena!
On a more depressing topic, remember your post a week or so ago about cutting off water in Tall Afar? Looks like it's a standard tactic, or at least is being used in Samarra as well - http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/news/world/9813499.htm [via Juan Cole]