Alright folks, buckle up because I’m about to dump my whole Lebanon adventure on ya, specifically Sidon and Tyre – two killer spots everyone should see. No fancy jargon, just raw travel grinds.
The Beirut Landing (& First Hurdle)
Landed at Beirut airport feeling pumped but instantly got that chaotic Middle Eastern energy vibe. Passport control crawled. Seriously. Stood in line maybe an hour, shuffling forward inch by inch. Pro Tip #1: Pack your damn patience right next to your visa paperwork. Needed that cash entry fee too, US dollars only, crisp bills. Saw some poor dude arguing over a creased twenty – don’t be that guy.
Hitting the South: Taxis & Trust
Ditched the airport taxi sharks – way too steep. Dragged my bag outside, flagged down a regular cab near the highway entrance. Bargained hard for the ride south to Sidon. Driver kept smiling saying “Good price, my friend!” while I hacked it down almost 30%. Learned real quick: always agree on cash upfront, Lira or USD both work. Just know your exchange rates that day.
Sidon Sidestep
Got dropped near the Sea Castle. Damn, that view! Old fortress sticking out of the waves like a pirate movie scene. Wandered inside, felt the breeze, snapped pics. Super cool. Then dove into the old souk – narrow lanes packed with spice smells, gold shops yelling deals at me. Almost got lost three times, used Google Maps offline like a lifeline. Grabbed lunch at this tiny hole-in-wall:
- Massive plate of Fattoush salad (tangy!)
- Grilled fish straight from the port
- Sticky sweet Kunafa that melted my teeth
Cheap and glorious. Insider Bit: Ask locals eating there where THEY go. Saved me tourist trap prices.
Thirsty Tyre
Caught a shared minibus (“servees”) south to Tyre. Squeezed in with locals, chickens (not kidding), and loud Arabic music. Cost pennies. Tyre hit different – Roman ruins right on the Mediterranean. Stumbled around hippodrome stones imagining chariot races. Best part? Finding a stretch of quiet public beach behind the ruins. Plopped down, watched fishermen fix nets. Bliss. Had some guy try charging me for sitting later – pointed at my soggy sandwich remains and gave him a “Really bro?” stare. He left. Fact: Most coastline is public, find it!
The Banana Boat Debacle
Made friends with a hostel crew later. Ended up jet-skiing (pricey, kinda regret) and got roped into a banana boat ride. Thought “Hey, fun!” Yeah… until the driver intentionally whipped us into the drink. Salt water up my nose, lost my sunglasses. Everyone laughed hysterically. Lesson learned: Waterproof everything. Or just skip the cheesy tourist stuff. Cheap local wine later smoothed things over.
Why Sidon/Tyre Rock
Look, Beirut’s wild, but south Lebanon? Deeper vibe. Way more chill locals. Less hustle. Saw fishermen still using traditional nets, kids playing football next to ruins older than anything back home. Costs way less. Felt real – dusty, complicated, beautiful chaos. Critical Takeaway: Rent a cheap SIM card at the airport! Mobile data saved my bacon navigating, translating menus, haggling taxi prices on the spot.
Bottom line? Saw Sidon. Saw Tyre. Got hustled sometimes, laughed hard, ate like a king for pennies, soaked in ancient history with my toes in the Med. Just go. Pack common sense, walk a ton, talk to shopkeepers – they know the gems. Lebanon’s messy, but damn does it grab you.
