What stroke me at first is the huge gap between a place like the ABC Center and everything around in the neighbourhood. One the one hand you'll find all these tiny streets sand-coloured -the kind you're thinking about when in Europe you dream of Beirut. On the other hand, there is this huge mall you wonder whether it's more American or Emirati. That being said, I have to say that to me, this mall really embodies the way Lebanese seem to revisit several different cultures. The ABC Center is a very chic and fancy place : that's for the Dubaï-style. At the same time, the place is also trendy, green and luminous that I find pretty European. And then, there is truely an incredible amount of shops just like in the US, I didn't see the shabby or cheap side, that characterizes city and country American malls.
Then there is this cute contorted crossroads named Sassine Square, I really like it. The first day I came, I spotted a fresh fruit juice shop and told to myself: « he's going to be my best friend! ». But at the same time, a Lebanese friend that lives in Achrafieh told me « This so great you're working here, so that you can go to Starbucks every morning! ».
Another thing I liked is the shops names. I passed by a butcher shop named « Boucherie qui rit » in French, which means « the Butcher's shop that laughs ». And there is also this caterer named « la Goulée » - basically a gulp. But don't get me wrong : I really don't feel like in France here. It's just that Achrafieh got this changing identity that borrows to other countries... and it's pretty attractive. »