> Does anybody know if Bourdain and crew made it out of Lebanon yet?
>
>
> --Rich
>
>

Here's a post I received from a mailing list I'm on:

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This was posted by Tony in eGullet

post Yesterday, 12:10 AM

Post #854

Bourdain

participating member

Posts: 747

Joined: 29-December 01

From: New York

Member No.: 863


I'm very aware of how flip my response to the Post was (made last Wednesday,
very early in the crisis)as I sought to reassure family and friends that we
were safe and okayand in good cheer. . It was--at the time--very
representative of the (outward) attitude of Beirutis themselves, who pride
themselves on their resilience and their determination to "keep the party
going." Initially, many Beirutis were still going strong at nightclubs as
jets flew low and menacingly overhead. Even that proud, famously world-weary
attitude quickly changed, however, as circumstances here became even more
appalling. I can certainly understand how offensive it might be to those on
the ground here--or those with family and friends here--to read some of
what's been posted on the other NR thread--and understand why it's been
closed for now.

It is indeed heartbreaking and horrifying what has happened to this lovely
country--to spanking new, lovingly restored,resurgent Beirut in particular,
in only a few days of sustained and seemingly senseless destruction. A few
days ago, this was a place where people were bursting with pride for the
relative tolerance, progressive attitudes, and lack of conflict between
groups. I was standing with a group: a Sunni, a Christian, and a Shiite--by
the Hariri memorial when the gunfire started and the Hezbollah people
appeared driving through city center and honking their horns in
"celebration" for the capture/kidnappings. The look of dismay and
embarrasment on all three faces...and the grim look of resignation as they
all-- instantly-- recognized what would inevitably come next...it's
something I will never forget. Of the three, our Shiite security guy, a
tall, taciturn man, was the last to leave us, insisiting on staying by our
side though he and his family lived in the much more perilous Southern part
of Beirut. After witnessing many quick telephone exchanges between him and
his family, and as more bombs and shells began to fall, seeing him nervously
fingering his prayer beads, we finally convinced him to leave. His house was
later flattened..

We were soon relocated to a safer part of town.The sense of regret and
....shame we feel at being relatively safe yet witness to the carnage...and
that we never got to show the world how beautiful this country and its
people are--how much "like us" (yet uniquely and wonderfully not), how
international, muti-lingual, multi-faith..how fantastic the food and
hospitality is...will gnaw at us forever. WE will make it home. WE--unlike
most Lebanese, have been

(relatively) safe and secure during this. Trapped, yes--but trapped by a
freaking swimming pool-not under the rubble of our homes. We may be only a
few thousand yards or a few miles from the falling bombs-but we have an
eventual way out. What hasn't been talked about much in the press, is how
many young returnees there are/were he young, educated Lebanese who'd
emigrated abroad or been born aboad and only recenly returned..how filled
with hope they were, how much they loved their country, how hopeful and
enthusiastic they were that they could make a difference (and they WERE
making a difference). That is all ashes now..

We (the NR crew) are indeed well--and well looked after. It's indeed
frightening here, it's enraging, it's horrifying,and its frustrating..the
classic "long hours of boredom interspersed with moments of terror" phenom
they always use when talking about life during wartime. But we are
relatively safe. And sooner or later we will no doubt be heading home.

We will never forget the Beirut that could have been-and will hopefully be
again. Or what we saw here.

I fully hope and expect that the administrators/mods will allow this
post--and immediately close it to further comment. The crew and I greatly
appreciate all the previous comments and expressions of concern here and
thank you all.

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abourdain