Back from Beirut

Sorry for the silence...the internet was hard to accomplish during our short stay in Beirut. What an amazing place. Needless to say, security was high following the assassination of the MP last week but there were really no difficulties. We did miss a trip out to Jeitha caves because we couldn't get through downtown Beirut on Tuesday when the parliament was meeting but we still found lots to do. The city is an interesting melange of old and new, abandoned and rebuilt, expecting trouble and building for the future. The number of cranes at construction sites is staggering - new hotels and condos going up all over the place.

We visited the American University in Beirut and the International College, which is the school where Peter's father was the president and thus where Peter and his siblings grew up - quite a remarkable place in an exotic setting. No wonder Peter has such a curiosity about the world and a real wanderlust.

We are now in London at the Priory of the Assumption where I will give my talk tomorrow night. We're hearing the sounds of Vespers being sung right now - lovely! Later we'll be off to wander by the Thames and search out some pub time!

Home soon!