Farewell to the British Ambassador to Lebanon in Sherwal and "labbadeh"

20/7/2015

(Translation of this article appears in Arabic section)

“Today I leave Lebanon after 4 years of real adventure, falling in love with this country and its people quickly.”

With these words, British Ambassador Tom Fletcher described Lebanon.

He has toured Lebanon from Batroun to Beirut over three days.

He decided to find out about the regions on foot, through the eyes of its people. Fletcher began his first day walking out of Batroun. He said: “seeing the Phoenician wall reminds you that the Lebanese have been here a long time ago.”

He walked in the narrow alleys of Batroun and learned from the son of Batroun minister Gebran Bassil.

From Batroun he kept walking towards Jbeil; halfway there, he was supported by his eldest son Charlie. “This was my chance to spend some time with my son,’’ he said.

When he reached Jbeil, Mr Fletcher said: “I came to Jbeil when I need to think or be concerned about a particular subject. I sit down with a large platter of fish and a little arak to help me to think about what to do next.”

Fletcher began his second day shedding light on the Lebanese industry that found its way into his country. The British ambassador visited a factory and then Our Lady of Lebanon in Harissa and said: “I came to this place on a farewell tour and for being such a special place for me, my family and for the Lebanese of all sects. It is important to remember that Christians and other minorities feel threatened in the Middle East, Iraq, Syria and other countries.”

Tom Fletcher, who sees in Lebanon a message of coexistence, decided at the dinner held in his honour at the end of the second day to wear a traditional Lebanese outfit. “I am today Lebanese. The "Sherwal" traditional dress of Lebanon (baggy shaped pants) particularly is very comfortable but the "labbadeh" (felt hats),  feels too hot,” he said.

(Translated into English by M. E. TIMES Int'l)