A Speedy Trip to Beirut

The power and magic of an old watch

Lebanon in the 1960s was a different country than the one most of us only know from the shelled concrete walls, RPG fire, and street craters streamed to us via the 1980s nightly news. Beirut used to be called, “the Paris of the Middle East,” for its vibrant cafe scene, elegant hotels, and sophisticated nightlife. One could alpine ski in the morning on s…