Paris of the East

Starting in Egypt and then traveling from southern to northern Jordan, I'd hit a roadblock when denied a visa at the Syrian border. As far as continuing to travel overland, not being able to enter Syria left two choices, bus to Israel or backtrack through Egypt. Instead I shelled out $157 for a 45-minute Middle East Airline flight from Amman to Beirut. As it's turned out, each time I cross a border the country is more developed -- and more expensive. The hip city of Beirut, filled with stylish outdoor cafes, clothes boutiques, and upscale hotels, still has a Middle Eastern feel to it, but also in many ways seems like a European city.