Bourj Hammoud is the Armenian section of Beirut. The streets of Bourj Hammoud are lined with shop after shop of jewelers, shoe stores, clothing stores, textiles, and shoe repair stores. Nothing is priced, so everything is negotiable. The American accent doubles the price, but being Armenian takes a little off that elavated price. We are slowly developing our bargaining skills.
Rue d'Armenie, the main street leading into Bourj Hammoud is also called Yerevan Highway, depending on which map you are using.
Arax Street is closed to traffic, therefore this is the safest place to walk in all of Beirut. Little shops line each side of the street waiting for your business.
A stop to buy Schwarma, Paul's favorite for lunch.
(a Lebanese sandwich made with chicken or lamb, vegetables, yogurt and rolled in flat bread)
Our own "family" jeweler. For those who don't know, my granny's maiden name was Balabanian.
The best Armenian restaurant in Beirut, Mayrig ( "mother" in Armenian), is located in this building. We can't even begin to describe the food. It's out of this world.
Inside view of Mayrig.
Palace of Beiteddine, one of the best examples of early 19th Century Lebanese architecture, was built over a 30 year period by Emir Bechir El Chehab II, who ruled Mount-Lebanon for more than 50 years. The palace was later occupied by the Ottomon Empire and then the French.
One of the several arched pathways in the palace.
Beautiful doors are made of wood on the inside and iron on the outside.
Mosaics are found in many of the gardens.
Boutrous Karami Room with it's marble mosaics and scultured wood and copper walls and ceilings. In this room the Emir received complaints from his subjects.
Another meeting room in the palace.
The Hammam or "Baths".
In one of the courtyards, children on a field trip discovered some Americans. The girl in the purple spoke French to us, so we could communicate a bit. The boy in front proudly spoke a few words of English and we all knew how to smile, hug and say our names.
Another group of children discovered the fountain.
Driving back towards Beirut, we meet a herd of goats traveling in the same direction.
A friendly goat herder coaxing his goats down the mountain.
In Mount Lebanon is comprised of steep mountains and valleys. To farm in these areas, the farmers terrace their land.
Photo taken from the restaurant where we had lunch.
