Line #14 UsefulNotes/Beirut


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/beirut_view.jpg]]
2	Beirut ('''Arabic:''' بيروت) is the capital and largest city of [[UsefulNotes/{{Lebanon}} Lebanon]] and the most diverse city in UsefulNotes/TheMiddleEast. During the Cedar Revolution of 2005, cynics noted the presence of Arab women in revealing outfits. People who knew Lebanon were amused at the cynics' cynicism; the Lebanese in general are famously tolerant (when they're not shooting at each other), and the Beirutis most of all.
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4	Beirut is mostly known because of the civil war. Suicide bombing as a military tactic started here, the most notable case being the attack on U.S. and French Marines in 1983. This is really rather unfortunate, since the Beirutis themselves would prefer you ignored the occasional outbreaks of violence and focused on the important things--like Beirut's bustling business scene (because the city is in a good spot for trade, and also because the Lebanese diaspora gives it business contacts ''everywhere''), culture (numerous artists and publishers--the old chestnut in the Arab literary world is that UsefulNotes/{{Egypt}} writes, Lebanon prints, and UsefulNotes/{{Iraq}} reads), and nightlife (something for everyone: even if you don't drink, the coffeeshops can accommodate you with any herbal beverage you care to name...and sometimes other "herbal" items as well, if that's your thing). And don't forget the amazing food--the Lebanese kitchen is famous the world over for good reason, and the Beirut restaurant scene shines at every level, from fancy sit-down places with napkins down to street stalls slinging kebab and falafel. Oh, and the outbreaks of warfare? [[BlackComedy Good for the construction business]].
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6	On a lighter note, [[DrivesLikeCrazy do not attempt to drive in Beirut unless you are absolutely certain you know what you're doing]]. [[MindScrew Or unless you are absolutely certain you don't]].
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8	!! Appearances in fiction:
9	* Film/JamesBond goes to Beirut in ''Film/TheManWithTheGoldenGun'' in order to steal the remains of a golden bullet that killed a 00 agent to a belly dancer. ([[CaliforniaDoubling the crew never went to Beirut]], it was all shot in Pinewood Studios)
10	* [[DeadpanSnarker Anthony]] [[CoolOldGuy Bourdain]] was filming here for ''Series/NoReservations'' and got stuck in the most recent war conflict. After getting out of there, he used the footage and presented the episode anyway. The episode won an Emmy.
11	* Featured thrice in ''Globe Trekker'', first with Ian Wright and later with Merrilees Parker and Megan [=McCormick=].
12	* ''Animation/WaltzWithBashir'' has portions taking place in Beirut during the 1982 War, including the Sabra and Shatila massacre.
13	* ''VideoGame/ModernWarfare'': Kamarov owed Captain Price for [[NoodleIncident something that happened here]].
14	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Animaniacs}}'': The Warners moved here.
15	* The civil war in Beirut is covered in ''Film/SpyGame''.
16	* Mac Taylor in ''Series/{{CSINY}}'' was injured by a suicide bomber when he was stationed in Beirut as a marine in the 1980s.
17	* ''VideoGame/PhantomDoctrine'' is set in 1983. Its CIA campaign starts with the player's hideout in Beirut, there's occasional references to the war, and the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1983_United_States_embassy_bombing_in_Beirut suicide attack against the US embassy]] is a plot point, [[spoiler:causing the death of Leslie, the protagonist's mentor in the CIA.]]
18	* It served at the main setting for the 2018 film ''Beirut'' starring Jon Hamm.

Context UsefulNotes / Beirut