From Sassine Square, Lebanon walks... Part 2

 

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From Sassine Square, Lebanon walks...

It's 11:40 am and I had just walked out of my residence to find the first service willing to take me to Sassine Square in Ashrafieh. Five taxi drivers and 21 honks later, I found a cab. The driver was an old man, who for the entire way, looked baffled by the fact that I wanted to go to the square. "Sassine Square is closed”, he said. I answered, "I know". Now, he was more baffled, I knew that the square was closed and yet I decided to go! To go alone nonetheless. The more he looked at me in his mirror, the more I sank in my seat... "I must be crazy", I thought" for going to this rally alone..." But my soul persevered. I swallowed my anxiety and hint of fear and we drove to Sassine Square...

We passed by Sanayi3 gardens, and the young ladies and men, dressed in blue t-shirts calling people to join the march, signaled our proximity to the starting point...

Hamra Specials

Introducing the Lebanese metric system... of course 30 fash7'as later i still couldn't find the place... 


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Younes and I

I am sure you have heard this before. Well I am not really sure, but most probably than not, the following words would sound familiar: “Café Younes”. The small café is located just off the street of Hamra and it is where I have been spending many of my nights. I simply love it. I mean I loved it the first time a friend introduced me to the place… but tonight I realized why I love it and why I keep coming back.

At first I though it’s the great coffee (and I do mean great! best in town. Their cardamom cappuccino and mocha are to die for). Then I thought it’s the food (Bagels, sandwiches and everything in between is yummy to say the least). The guys at café Younes are not just friendly, they are genuine… a rare trait in the café business. But this is not about Younes’ menu or service or location, this is about what makes me, among others, keep coming back. You see Younes unlike other cafes in Hamra seems to be able to lure in the most intellectual interesting minds and characters around. It seems to revive this cultural feel of Beirut in each of its corners.


Here you find them all, designers, engineers, doctors, writers, students, professors, young, old, strangers, friends. They are thinking, creating, discussing, planning, revolutionizing, writing, drawing, imagining, and dreaming of a better tomorrow. And they are doing all of this at Cafe Younes. The energy, is unmistakable, the vibe is loud and clear: “ At Café Younes, we offer you whatever couch, chair, stool, caffeine/ chocolate intake, it takes for you to perform your best”. For people who come here, Café Younes isn’t home (that would be too much of a cliche), but it’s the place where they can be who they really are, and who they want to be. It is where their journey starts to wherever their thoughts may lead them…

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