This is the large blue mosque in Beirut. Well, it should be, and the internet said that it uploaded my photos, but it clearly did not. I tried to go to a cafe where I thought that it would be faster/cheaper, but it was not. Posting on the blog remains to be a difficult process. But I will try again. Know that I am loving Damascus, and will try to put up a decent post next week.

In Damascus Now.

Today I started my first Arabic lesson. I decided to go with private lessons first, and then try to place higher at the university. It was great. I have gotten settled and comfortable here, and everything that was a worry coming over is taken care of. It really is a blessing how everything just seemed to fall into place. (This is a picture of my street. I thought it was pretty cool).

This is my apartment from my balcony overlooking the Um’mayyad Mosque. (The pillar is supposedly the place where Christ will ascend on his second coming before heading to Jerusalem).

I had been e-mailing a kid named Shea who was also studying here, and after church he took me to look at a couple of apartments. It was a really nice place, and for the area and the competition it was the best deal. It’s right in the middle of Old Damascus, on a Shi’ite pilgrimage route. I paid around $215 to finish up October. And in November when Shea moves in, it will be around $180 per person. So by the end of the first day I had an apartment. It was really nice.

So on Friday I left Beirut at 6:30 in the morning. If I had never been to Albania I think I would have had a more dramatic ride over. I was squished between the passenger and the driver in a makeshift seat which of course did not have a seatbelt. But of course only the driver had a seatbelt which he refuses to wear. And then he proceeds to speed, pass on curves, and drive on the wrong side of the road. But luckily I was in Damascus all in one piece by nine. That gave me enough time to get to know the Elder and Sister Matis before Church started at ten. It was very nice service, and we had dinner together afterwards. I think I’ll like having this little branch of eight members.

They gave us our chicken wings (it tasted just like America) with a bunch of plastic gloves. I think it is because it is a trendy place, and if I were wearing the nice clothes that the Lebanese don to go out on the town, I would not want to get any hot sauce on it either. Tomorrow I head out early to Damascus in order to make the 10:00 church meeting they have there. I have had a wonderful time in Beirut with my new friend E.B., her friend Sammi, and her dog Smuggler. It really was such a blessing to have an experience Beriutian help me get here and get started. For those that were worried about me, I would not be. I have been well taken care of. And I have heard that the people in Damascus are just as kind as they are in Beirut. It is a very pleasant city. I was looking for a cupcake store today, and everyone I asked was so nice and helpful. It has been only three days, but they have been a pretty good three days. And they give me an optimism about the days to come.

Wandering the City

I have wandered all over the city in the last two days. I went into the biggest Mosque I have ever seen, (and yes I have seen some large Mosques, thank you.) and it had a Large, Beautiful, crystal chandelier hanging from its dome with mosaics all over the building. I saw the American University of Beirut, and the Lebanon American University, and have also spent the nights checking out Beirut's night life a bit. Today I spent about eight hours just walking around the city, and it is beautiful. But of course the only time that I thought to bring my camera and take pictures was when my gracious hostess E.B. and I went to dinner. Mostly we ate at traditional 100% Lebanese places, but a restaurant named "Lord of the Wings" deserves my patronage anytime, anywhere.

Westernized

I can get anything I want in Beirut. Plus I think this coke can in Arabic looks cool.

Andrew Burton Actually in Beirut.

After about 28 straight hours of traveling, (including two four-hour stays in airports) I have landed and am safe in Lebanon. The only security hiccup that I came across was entering the country. On my entry form, I did not write that I was staying at any address, because I did not know the address of the place I was staying. I did not figure it was a big deal, but apparently it was. The flight was already delayed an hour and a half, I was at the end of the plane, so by the time I got to customs, I was 2 hours late. Then I spent another little while in an office with some policemen as they made sure that all my stories checked out, and that I was going to have a place to stay. I was really worried that E.B. (the friend who was picking me up) was going to be put out, but when it was all said and done, she was waiting there with a smile on her face. And now I am using her wireless internet to let everyone know that I am safe and happy (with all of my luggage intact) here in Beirut.