I think I’m growing up.

So, I came to Lebanon with no less than 15 pairs of shoes (most of which are pictured below)..

Ridiculous I know..but I suppose I was under the impression that I would be able to walk around all day in high heels ..you know, just like the Lebanese women do..

Embarrassing.

Anyway, I was looking at my closet full of shoes and laughing at how I can count, on one hand, the amount of times I’ve worn high heels..and I’ve been here for four months now!

You see, I quickly learned that it’s almost impossible to walk around in Hamra and Gemmazyeh in my two favorites below..even if only at night!

so, I traded in the high heels for more practical options..such as the ones below…

and eventually came to the conclusion that comfort trumps style, and adopted the “what the hell, no one knows me anyway” mentality..and have decided to crown a new favorite..

Yeahhh boi!

I think I’m growing up.

Palais Sursock

What I love about Lebanon, is how you can discover gems like Palais Sursock, a one hundred year old mansion, just sitting there, watching..as modern life passes it by..

Go up the stairs..

Then go inside..

Greet the lady of the house..

Be entertained!

Eau du ASHTRAY.

Ok, so maybe I’m part of the less than 1% of the population who doesn’t smoke here in Lebanon.  But jeeeeze, I wish that just for once I could go out with out smelling like an ashtray at the end of the night – is that so much to ask?

Apparently it is.

I was reading a couple of local blogs, and there was an anti-smoking initiative organized by the Rotaract club of Beirut called “Ain’t No Smoking Tonight” on October 28th of last year.  That’s right, only for ONE night.  Out of the 35 pubs in Gemmazyeh (a very popular area for bar hopping) that agreed to partake in the initiative, only a few actually stuck to it! Many of them just used the opportunity for free publicity, and allowed people to smoke anyway..

This picture sums up what the Lebanese thought of “Ain’t No Smoking Tonight”

What a mockery!

This is what local blogger and illustrator, Maya Zankoul, had to say about the night.  She designed the poster above..the images below were taken from her blog.

taken from http://www.mayazankoul.com

taken from http://www.mayazankoul.com

My new scent – Eau du Ashtray.

How attractive.