Rue Hamra.....

November 02, 2013 • Leave a Comment

Cutting through the heart of one of Beirut’s main economic and diplomatic hubs, “Rue Hamra’ or ‘Hamra Street’ is lined with many sidewalk cafes, theatres and shops. During the 1960 and 1970s this was the centre of the intellectual activities and one of the trendiest areas of Beirut. Now it has been overtaken by ‘rue Monot’ and ‘rue Gauraud’ in Achrafiehe and Gemmanyzeh but the the city has recognized ‘Rue Hamra’ relevance and in the more recent years has improved the infrastructure and the initiated renovations to re-attract people all year round. The ‘Rue Hamra’ and the Hamra district of Beirut has been, and maybe still is, a bastion of liberalism, embracing many religions and political views amid an on-going sectarian divide. Hamra Street is a melting pot of all of Lebanon’s religious sects, so far remaining a secular heaven and kind of the least religiously affiliated area around Beirut, hosting a number of churches as well as mosques.

The street buzzes with life during the summer when many tourists, most noticeably from the ‘Gulf’ travel to Lebanon, although this year as well as last year the number was much less due to the tensions in the country and conflicts in the region. Shops and restaurants celebrate the history through local food and hookah smoking. Older people who know the area well before the Lebanese Civil War refer to it as Beirut’s ‘Champ Elyse’s’. Hamra Street also hosts a lot of hotels and stylish furnished apartments catering to students and visitors of nearby American University of Beirut and others.

The whole neighbourhood remains trendy and profitable because of its historic significance, its feel of being the authentic Beirut from the bygone days, its viable pub and nightclub scene. Bars, pubs and nightclubs of the area usually serve alcohol. Despite having undergone many renovations and changes over the years, it is still regarded by many as the heart of the city. Every year during autumn a cultural festival takes place, usually organized to exhibit the cultural and artistic diversity of the country and Hamra Street in particular. Participation of all kind of artists, professional, amateur and freelancers is greatly encouraged. During this time there are concerts organized, ranging from Rock, Blues and Jazz to Oriental music, displaying the full length and breadth of the Lebanese music scene. Representation of NGOs and Awareness groups is also included in the festival.

Keywords: Beirut, Fighting, Hamra, Lebanon, Olympus, Rue Hamra, Summicron, Traffic, Travel, War

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