I'll try but words will never touch you like the show will....
Day 1 they arrive in Beirut.
Day 2 - they start filming and eat lunch. Right after that, they see cars coming down the street waving flags and shouting - all celebrating the capture and killings of the Israeli soldiers. Their guide acts embarrassed and troubled - realizing that this was serious. Later they go out to night clubs where it's pretty much life as usual amid the shooting.
Day 3 - the airport is bombed as they are trying to get arrangements to get out of the country
Day 4 - (I think) they are whisked off to a safer hotel location on a hill overlooking the city where they remain for about a week. It's the fear of the adults at the hotel. The complete ignorance of what is going on of the young kids playing in the pool. The security consultant preparing them for the worst - teaching them 8 ways to get out of their room and to the 'escape' vehicles. Anthony's frustration showing. Anthony 'borrowing' the kitchen at the hotel to cook a 'comfort' meal for his crew because he doesn't know what else to do. The frustration of the president not doing more. The frustration of the lack of organization when they finally do get to leave. The appreciation towards the Marines and crew of the USS Nashville for being human towards everyone rather than stiff and all military after what they had been through. The comfort of a tuna noodle casserole by this renowned chef. And the hope to one day return and finish what he started - showing the resilience and people of Beirut.
It's a side of Anthony that you don't often see. It's a lot of emotion. Sadness over the fact that Beirut looked like a hip young city that was overcoming it's war torn past. A hope taht all people are basically good and that sitting around a table can bring the world together.
The emotions in this episode are worthy of awards - it's real and it shows a side that you just don't get from any reporters out there.
I have put a link that I hope will work to an article he wrote and is published at Salon.com
This show has created so much conversation (most people liked it but some think his one little comment about the prez is the focus and it wasn't) that you can't even get on his website. There are posts and blogs everywhere about this episode of the show.
http://www.salon.com/mwt/feature/2006/07/28/bourdain_beirut/print.html
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