Arrived in Beirut at 1 AM today-trip was uneventful but involved a wait of many hours in Larnaca, Cyprus.  I know this part of West Beirut, called Aim Al Mreisse, from my stay 2 years ago. But late this afternoon I walked toward downtown in search of a particular pastry shop and found that it has greatly changed due to the political crisis here.  Many streets are blocked off with concrete barricades and razor wire. The street I was walking on had large coils of razor wire on both sides and armed soldiers on patrol.  It became difficult to navigate due to the fast traffic passing by the razor wire, then I came to sandbagged defensive positions, tanks, and large groups of soldiers.  I decided that as an obvious foreigner I might be judged to be a security risk and decided to turn around.  Beirut is no place to go looking for trouble.

Heading up north tomorrow to begin trekking!  Will be good to get out of Beirut, too much traffic and concrete for me, plus it is the most potentially dangerous place in the country.