Yes, was driven through Turkey by a boyfriend who'd picked up a Merc in Frankfurt, and took it back to Saudi. I'm sure the country's more sophisticated than 25 years ago, but friends have a holiday apartment out there and go two or three times a year. The weather's fabulous and there is just such a variety of scenery to see. Just Google 'Istanbul' and you will see loads of famous sites.
Only been to Beirut and that was seriously years ago, about two weeks before the big troubles started. It was always the fashionable and smart city of the Middle East, used to have casinos and top night clubs and a beautiful marina. Of course, the civil war and then wars with Israel have flattened a lot of its lovely old architecture since the 1970s, but it has rebuilt itself into a very smart city even now. The Lebanese are both Christian and Muslim - they are all very accepting of foreigners, having hosted an American university and schools for decades in the city, and the urbanites are smart and talented, many having been to American and European universities for a wide variety of degrees. Vast amounts of hospitals throughout the Middle East are populated by Lebanese doctors and nurses, and they excel as engineers on Gulf contracts. They have a great SOH, and you should have a good time with them.
Turkish and Lebanese food is very similar - in fact, you really can't tell it apart. Expect feta cheese, chunky salads with tomatoes and cucumbers with yogurt and mint, khubz - hot flat bread straight from the clay ovens (much, much nicer than the store-bought pita here, more like a thinner version of Indian naan), lots of lamb and chicken dishes, some fish, and while the hotels will serve steak and pork, it's with lamb and chicken that the recipes excel. A famous and favourite dish is Imam Bayeldi - you can Google that if you want the recipe! That's also a fave in Iran but not particularly the rest of the Gulf. It means 'the imam fainted' - at delight at the dish!
Lebanon has, like Turkey, a healthy agricultural sector, and so there will be no problem with obtaining fresh veg and fruit to eat. Olives are a speciality - if you like them, you'll be stunned at the types of both green and black ones in the markets, stuffed with all sorts of goodies like almonds (I don't like olives, but these were gorgeous), anchovies, peppers, cheese, tomato, etc. Turkey does grilled sardines (the size of trout) beautifully and both countries will serve you the most succulent lamb kebabs ever. Out on the pavements, you'll see the kebab spits rotating and the shopkeeper carving a fresh kebab for customers. Fresh-cooked falafel to take away in a brown paper bag - absolute heaven. Dates - big, fat ones, nothing like those flattened Tunisian 'Christmas' ones - again, there are many ways to eat them. I used to prefer the "noos-a-noos" - half-and-half - the top half has ripened, the lower half is still scrunchy. There are different varieties of dates, too, and again you'll find some stuffed with blanched almonds. Almonds are grown extensively in both countries, and they export loads of sugared almonds, which are delicious. You've also got to try real Turkish delight in either country! It's called "layqoom" in Turkish and you'll be served something very far removed from Fry's version.
You must try the coffee as served local style (in either country) - tiny cups like shot glasses, often flavoured with cardomom. Tea, served also in small glasses, not cups or mugs, flavoured with sugar and mint. Three servings is considered the etiquette, after which you turn your little glass upside-down. You don't actually have to do that, of course!
Beirut is also splendid for Dubai-style shopping, if that's what you'd like. Gold shops by the zillion. It's mostly 24 or 18 carat and the stones will be very high-class. Much of the workmanship is done in Italy. Boutiques are much favoured and all the designer names are out there. The city has a strong cosmopolitan feel to it - lovely boulevardes, palm trees, boat trips, diving off the beaches, fishing if you want it, water sports.
Blimey - I could hop on a plane tomorrow!
