No, not the one at the East River on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, but the one here in Tyre near the Christian Quarter. Yes, Turtle Bay, because there are actually big Sea Turtles in the ocean and this Saturday I saw one swimming close to the coast. The only other one I had seen was last year at the end of winter, dead on the public beach south of Tyre. It is so much nicer to see them well and alive, ploughing through the seas. How much longer, let’s hope for a long time to come. Besides the Turtel(s), there was of course other ‘matter’ swimming in the sea, unidentifiable but as much unenticing as last time when I went to the same beach. Surprisingly the waves were breaking on the rocks quite dramatically and the swell reaching the beach was not small, despite a small breeze only.

Arriving at the beach early it was empty, so it was quite nice to sit and observe the water, the waves, and oh yes, the person raking the beach. Surprised to be treated to such a view the action of raking the beach was observed closely and with interest. The area of ‘interest’ was rather limited to the immediate place in front of the gazebo. With the small iron rake, the usual filth washed up was neatly collected in small piles above the water line. Then the next tool appeared, a shovel, presumably to transfer the piles of refuse into some containers to carry it off.

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"Collection of refuse from the Sea"

WRONG! The shovel was used to dig holes close to the piles of refuse, transfer the same into the holes and cover them up. “Khalas, finished!” The whole sequence of actions taken was symptomatic for everything else in the country. The ‘verbial’ carpet was lifted, the dirt swept under the rug, a last critical look at the work with an expression of satisfaction, ready for another day of business and who will know and care anyway. This is how it is done here, all and everything!

Ramadan started on Wednesday or Tuesday, depends what school of thought one follows. No easy fasting from sunrise to sunset, this means at this time of the year from about four in the morning to eight in the evening. The days are very hot and humid, sultry, making things so much more difficult. Last week, just before Ramadan, a huge car bomb ripped through the southern suburbs of the capital. Is this the beginning of the new or the end of an area? According to information sources, much more has been smuggled into this country for much bigger bangs at least that is what the papers are saying these days. Let’s hope they are wrong.

"Piranhas in the Beirut Souks"

Despite all of this, I had to go to Beirut this weekend; a month of abstinent has taken its toll!  I am sure Ramadan had something to do with it but the capital was empty, really empty, which was at the first look not so bad. When entering the pedestrian area around the ‘Place de Etoille’, the soldiers on guard duty had been increased. They wanted to check my camera bag and to know where I came from (Ah, Aleman quai’ es) and then told me not to photograph the Parliament. That was a new one and pretty useless as it was in such a distance from the Check Point that they could not see it and nobody else was there. I had no plans to photograph the parliament anyway. What amazed me was the emptiness of the streets, nearly no people. Ok, Ramadan and the heat, mid-day, but I also noticed a lot of closed shops and restaurants that had been given up and were completely empty. The political situation here and in Syria is taking its toll on the tourist season this year. Most restaurants that were open had no patrons, only bored waiters and chefs.

I used the 50mm Summicron today on the OMD5 and love the results. To me they look a bit ‘film’ like. Would love to try it out on portraits, but with whom. 

"Beirut City Centre"

Another three weeks and I be in Germany on leave, can’t wait. Bye

"Fritz the Cat"