December 1st, 2006

So, T minus one hour, and what a hectic night we had. At about 20.00 last night the rally started and the Hezbollah flags, in-car sound systems and bodies hanging out of windows started driving around. A couple of hours later, "the other lot" started
doing the same thing, following the same route. The police station opposite has never been so active, and the soldiers were scurrying down the road to look after Prime Minister Siniora's house. Lots of activity, lots of nervousness...and it continued all night. Needless to say, school was a waste of time: those students who did show up at school wanted to do nothing except discuss what was happening, and give their theories about what will happen. Now, every apartment visible from my balcony is bedecked with a Lebanese flag: Nasrallah told people not to bring sectarian flags, but only to bring or fly the national flag. Interesting, given that the Lebanese flag has been hijacked by the Christian/right-wing parties. Still, the convoys of cars are taking little notice of this, and I doubt there will be an absence of Hezbollah flags at the demonstration either. I think even Sheikh Hassan himself will not be able to control all the elements of this particular genie that he is letting out of the bottle.
It's a beautiful day: sunny, warm, the sea is a clear, bright blue, and everyone is on their balconies, watching (for the moment) and waiting. Until the sun goes down, things will maintain the party atmosphere, but let's see what ahppens after the sun goes down. More later.
Oh yes: we have a vantage point. We decided not to join the parade, but will instead go to the 24th floor of the Hayatt Hotel, where there is a rooftop bar, and will observe from there. Later, to a club to listen to a group of local musicians (Oud players, etc). Life goes on: apparently the bars of Achrafieh (partyville in Beirut) were packed last night, more so than usual, on the
grounds that it might be the last chance for a long time. We will see if that is just fatalistic paranoia.
More later.