3 weeks ago I went on a business trip to Beirut with my boss for 3 days..
Good flight: less than 1 hour flying, business class seats, polite taxi driver, good hotel.. I thought that I will loose the tension of work, since my job is one of the most stressful that I ever had.
We checked into the hotel 8:00 PM, agreed with my boss to take a shower, change our clothes & meet in the lobby to go out for dinner (had nothing to eat since morning)..
So we did, asked the receptionist to make a reservation for 2 in the most prestigious restaurant in Beirut.. As we were in the taxi, we got to a tunnel that leads to that part of the city, to find the tunnel blocked by rebels of Hezbollah & put on fire.. Flames burning in garbage containers, broken glass shattered on the street to prevent cars from driving..
Blood froze in my veins, I thought to myself "Dear GOD, is this where I'm gonna die?"
The boss kept convincing me to go from another street as a shortcut, the cab driver said the problems are due to a comedy TV show impersonated Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah, Sheea'a thought it was offensive.. He also told me that the only troubled area is the one where most sheea'a are located.. but the rest of Beirut is safe..
I refused to go to the dinner, we all went back to the Hotel & had club sandwiches..
The strange thing is, inspite of the hectic situation in the Lebanese streets, you don't see any armed forces trying to force law on these rebels, no police to keep security.. It was as if these guys bought the area & they can do what they pleas with it..
It's also strange how the Lebanese authorities & government do not interfere for a problem solution until after the disaster happens.. I thought the war was over, I thought Lebanon - the country that I absolutely adore - will be ok..
Well, seems not..
The next 2 days, I finished my business meetings, went to business lunches.. I was too afraid to go out at night, so a went to bed early..
As I went on board my plane going back home, looked at those green mountains, that pearl like sea.. Prayed to GOD next time I come to visit, it will be all ok again..
Labels: Reality
