Conference In Lebanon, Day 1

As I told you, I was away as a companion to my dad on this trip to Beirut. On Wednesday we got ourselves ready for the trip, in a bus, to cross the borders. An explosion has taken place a couple of days ago, but that didn't seem to deter anyone from going. Our group of Syrian oncologist and companions took off in the afternoon with the sponsoring drug company rep, a female my age from Jordan (definitely with a hyperactive personality), towards the Lebanese borders. I met and got introduced to all the other doctors in the trip, most I didn't know from before, and became good friends quickly. Everyone was so joyous, except one who was reading medical journals all the time, and the trip was spent singing and dancing as in any other normal one. The fact that all of us were doctors didn't prevent us from being teenagers on a school trip. Jokes were shooting all over the place, practical or none, and most were of a heavy nature (من تحت الزنار) and innocent flirting. The borders were no trouble at all, thanks to those guiding us, and we didn't even have to get off the bus.
We arrived at the Phoenicia Intercontinental Hotel. An icon of splendor I thought. The outside is not the fanciest imaginable, but from the inside one is first faced with a huge chandelier above a red-carpeted marble stairway. All kinds of fancy jewelry shops are scattered around, and in the atrium rests a huge lounge with a live band singing nice calm songs.
The service is exceptional, and if you needed a dragon's egg they would get it. The room was spacious with complimentary sweets (baklavas) and fruit (changed daily). Bottled water is free (as opposed to my USA experience), and the view from the room overlooks a beautiful bay, and… the site were Al-Hariri was assassinated. The bathroom (and I know some there are picky about hotels' bathrooms) are to die for (or in). It was spacious, marbled and clean with a shower, a tub, and high quality accessories; I took many pictures of it due to my admiration. Despite all that, we barely spent anytime in the hotel rooms, except to sleep and take showers. We swam in the indoor pool almost everyday, a pleasurable experience. There was a Jacuzzi and a gym that I didn’t use. In the evening time, an employee comes and lights the pool surrounding with candles; the pool itself is surrounded with greens and plants.
At night we were invited to a dinner at the hotel; a fine dining experience. The staff of the sponsoring company was very nice, professional, amicable and friendly; they did all they can to make sure their guests were happy. Our group was not the only one, but there were some from Egypt, France, and Iran too. The table we sat at was huge, fitting 5x8 people, and in the middle, flower petals were thrown. The meal was a five course dinner; we didn't have to choose (and I shouldn't complain) but I got used to ordering my meat the way I want. Medium-well is a bit too much for my taste now, but nevertheless the food was very good. A new thing I learned is that they offer sorbet after a seafood appetizer to get rid of the smell, or the taste. I think I like the USA meat more, but the service in this hotel is superior.
Afterwards we moved to an adjacent lounge, were live music was playing too. We did a bit of dancing and chatting, but the main theme was a guy (my gut feeling tells me with Gulf money) and his… I think, escort, mistress, or something. Anyway, she was overly flirtatious with him to the degree of disgust. She had a baby face and a nice body. Every now and then he would apparently ask her to dance for him, and she would, then we wouldn't… because everyone, including girls, would be looking in her direction watching her jumping and shaking a body under a dress that looks like a slightly long shirt. In one instant she started taking off her jewelry fearing they would fall or fly away as she shakes. The worst thing about this is that the "guy" didn’t seem to be watching her, but enjoys his cigar as if nothing is happening. We heard later that such a service is available for few nights for a good sum of dollars. I am not sure what the package includes. But that definitely was a highlight of the evening.
The conference hasn't started yet, and this is only the beginning. I will follow that with day 2, then day 3.