Beirut For Dummies, By Dummies

Yet another, euh, weird piece about Beirut in the Western media.

At Gauche Caviar in Gemmayzeh (source)

The fact that Czech Airlines sponsored a London-based writer to write about Beirut for a Canadian newspaper is not the only odd thing about this piece on Beirut.

The writer, who is staying in the Albergo hotel, doesn’t get her facts straight: “Labneh is a creamy white cheese” and Kibbeh nayyeh was “rather like beef tartar”, indulges in clichés: “[Beirut youngsters] spend, party and live for today” and spews intelligence-insulting hyperboles: “with [Beirut’s] glamour easily putting New York or Paris to shame.”

Worse, the writer seems to believe this stuff: “Although it’s all said with a smile, the party-loving girls who act like they don’t have a care in the world are deadly serious. Wise beyond their years, they are admirably pragmatic.”

If you’re into the “western reporter comes to Beirut, enjoys the nightlife in Monot and Jemmayze and is amazed at how the war torn youth enjoys life to its full” genre, then go ahead and read it. Otherwise, don’t bother.