Globe Trekker: Beirut with Planet Food Lebanon

Beirut, Lebanon's capital has a long history of political and social unrest that still makes headlines today. Globe Trekker's Beirut City Guide captures the city in more optimistic days, two weeks before the latest outbreak of hostilities in Lebanon between Israeli and Hezbollah forces in July 2006. Globe Trekker Megan McCormick explores the neighborhoods of Basta, Solidere, Gemayze and the Hezbollah District and finds a city in the midst of regeneration. She gets a glimpse at Beirut's future when meeting up with a group of young Arabic hip hop artists, who are eager to live in peace and put the country's political troubles in the past. On a day trip out of the city she visits the ancient fishing village of Byblos and heads to the hills to unearth fish fossils. Before returning to Beirut, Megan visits Jeita Grotto, a beautiful series of underground caves and lakes. The program also revisits Globe Trekker Ian Wright's trip to Beirut in the mid 1990's to show the evolution of this fascinating city. Bonus Program Planet Food Lebanon - The producers of Globe Trekker and presenter Merilees Parker take you on a culinary tour of Lebanon. The journey begins in Beirut, where Merilees samples the capital's street food. She travels south to the ancient port of Tyre to meet up with local fishermen. The next leg of the journey takes Merilees to the Chouf mountains to learn the art of pickling and preserving before visiting Zahle to sample its famous mezes. Then she heads to Tripoli to seek out the delicacies of Lebanon's second largest city.