The Lebanese Code: Facts and Figures

Dear Lebanon

I think it is time to summarize the blog's situation so far.

• With about 30 posts written during a month period, I managed to get about 300 readers daily.
• A bank who closed my account threatened to sue me.
• I proposed we create : A consumer rights organization, a restaurant rating website, and an About Lebanon section on the blog.
• We got a review from Mr. Connor Coyne, an American blogger who reviews blogs. The Lebanese Code was one of the 4 blogs out of 100 which he recommended for reading.

While I liked all of your comments, I consider this one important because it is from a foreigner who knows little about Lebanon. Here is what he had to say:

My name is Connor Coyne and I was referred to your blog through Globe of Blogs.
I'm intrigued by your stories of life in Lebanon, and am going to link to you. I have a limited understanding of your country and culture, but am excited to learn more. You relate anecdotes in a way that is poignant, engaging, and is a pleasure to read. Even though I am currently reading with little familiarity, your writing is evocative, and I feel like I can relate.

Although I am not writing lately, I can assure you that I will work harder in order to continue what I started with this blog.
Between my work and applying to graduate schools, I have too much on my mind.
I'll keep on posting weekly until the daily inspiration comes back in the near future.

To see Mr Connor Coyne's Blog, go to http://blueskiesfalling.blogspot.com


Thank You

Z Lebanese

A Foreign Perspective on Monot

Dear Lebanon

Sorry for not writing lately, but I have been a bit busy and uninspired.
While reading news online, I found an interesting article on Monot street written by Katherine Zoepf of The New York Times. It was published in the New York Times and the International Herald Tribune.
While I found this article more or less objective, I believe that the interviewed waiter's comment was inappropriate. He said that most people would spend the whole night on 1 beer.
I am not here to discuss whether this is an actual fact... But I want to make it clear that drinks in Lebanon are not cheap. While a bottle of beer costs around 750LL ( 50 cents) in the supermarket, it is sold between 5000 LL (3.3 $) and 10 000LL (6.5$) in pubs.
That is 10 times more on average...

You can read the entire article on the IHT site.

By the way, the BINGO game is now the latest entertainment wave to hit Lebanon. I will investigate that and get back to you with details.

Until then...

Size Does Matter !

Happy New Year Lebanon!

Sadly, when I asked people how they spent new year's eve, they replied with an "okay".
But I hope this year will be different, and Lebanon's situation will ameliorate.

I went out last night with my friends to a coffee house in the Greater Beirut region, which is supposedly one of the "In" places in Lebanon. I wasn't hungry, so I decided to have my favorite desert, an apple pie.
When the waiter asked me whether I would like a vanilla ice cream on top of it, before I could reply, my friend who wanted a piece of it replied with a YES.
20 minutes later, all my friends got what they asked for, and I was still waiting for my pie.
So I gently asked the waiter about it... After my friends were almost done with their meals, the big surprise came. A plate with a round thing in it was put on the table. The waiter referred to it as "The Apple Pie"...
Few seconds of silence, and then everybody on the table started laughing out loud. We couldn't believe it. It had a 9 cm diameter, no ice cream, and barely One slice of apple. (one single apple could be cut into more than 20 slices).
It took 6 tiny bites to finish it. (It usually takes 4 but I wanted it to last longer).

So much for an apple pie. Maybe it was my mistake, since I am used to the Apple Crumble at the famous Casper & Gambinis restaurant. I was expecting something bigger and tastier in return for the 6500L.L. price tag.

By the way, the ceiling was leaking and there was water under our table. So much for quality and service. I decided not to name the Coffee House, but a great idea came to my mind.

What if I created a section in this website where people can rate restaurants and cafes, give their comments and check what other people think about them? It will be the first true Lebanese tourisitic guide based on real experiences.

I am waiting for your ideas and comments...