Have a shisha pipe delivered to your door via moped. Ah, Beirut.
Take crossings seriously; other threats, less so. The official Beirut travel advice on U.K. and U.S. government websites is alarming. It’s true that the security situation could potentially deteriorate quite quickly, and that terrorists could indeed carry out attacks in various parts of the country. But from a surprise-terror-attack perspective, central Beirut is probably as safe as London, Berlin, and Paris (at the time of writing). In line with most government travel-advice notices, avoid the suburbs of the city if you’re paranoid. And while you’re at it, steer clear of the U.S. embassy in Awkar, too. You likely wouldn’t have ventured out to either destination for touristic purposes, anyway. Quips aside, do take extra care when crossing Beiruti roads. Drivers can be reckless and the streets can be chaotic. Keep in mind that traffic lights and stop signs aren’t always to be trusted; red and green are sometimes treated as suggestions, not orders. Beware the pesky scooter—they tend to weave in and out of traffic with no regard for others.
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