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				<span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Verdana', 'sans-serif'; color: black; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="color: #0364ab; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #808080;"><strong>General Facts</strong></span> <span style="color: #0364ab;">|</span> </span><a href="index.php?option=com_jetour&amp;view=otherpages&amp;otpage_id=5"><span style="color: #0364ab; font-size: xx-small;">Geography</span></a><span style="color: #0364ab; font-size: xx-small;"> <span style="color: #000000;">|</span>&nbsp;</span><a href="index.php?option=com_jetour&amp;view=otherpages&amp;otpage_id=6"><span style="color: #0364ab; font-size: xx-small;">Culture</span></a><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #0364ab;"> <span style="color: #000000;">|</span> </span><a href="index.php?option=com_jetour&amp;view=otherpages&amp;otpage_id=7"><span style="color: #0364ab;">Lebanese Food</span></a><span style="color: #0364ab;"> <span style="color: #000000;">|</span> </span></span><a href="index.php?option=com_jetour&amp;view=otherpages&amp;otpage_id=8"><span style="color: #0364ab; font-size: xx-small;">Leisure</span></a><span style="color: #0364ab; font-size: xx-small;"> <span style="color: #000000;">|</span> </span><a href="index.php?option=com_jetour&amp;view=otherpages&amp;otpage_id=9"><span style="color: #0364ab; font-size: xx-small;">Shopping</span></a></span></td>
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				<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><strong>Country name:</strong></span></td>
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				<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Lebanon</span></td>
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				<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><strong>Capital city:</strong></span></td>
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				<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Beirut</span></td>
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				<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><strong>Government Type:</strong></span></td>
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				<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Republic</span></td>
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				<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><strong>Borders:</strong></span></td>
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				<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">West: Mediterranean Sea - North &amp; East: Syria - South: Palestine</span></td>
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				<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><strong>Geographical area:</strong></span></td>
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				<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">10,452 sq km</span></td>
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				<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><strong>Highest point:</strong></span></td>
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				<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">3,083 m (Kornet Al Sawda)</span></td>
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				<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><strong>National Airport: </strong></span></td>
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				<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Beirut Rafic el Hariri International Airport</span></td>
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				<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><strong>Population:</strong></span></td>
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				<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">4.4 million (based on World Bank data 2002)</span></td>
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				<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><strong>Independence Day:</strong></span></td>
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				<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">22 November</span></td>
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				<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><strong>Language:</strong></span></td>
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				<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">The official language is Arabic; however French and English are widely spoken</span></td>
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				<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><strong>Religion: </strong></span></td>
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				<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Islam and Christianity are the main religions. However, the government recognizes 17 distinct religious sects: 5 Muslim (Shiite, Sunnite, Druze, Ismailite, and Alawite), 11 Christian (4 Orthodox, 6 Catholic, and 1 Protestant), and Judaism.</span></td>
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				<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><strong>Time Zone:</strong></span></td>
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					<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">GMT + 2 (winter: October to March)<br />
					GMT + 3 (summer: April to September)</span></p>
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				<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><strong>Banks &amp; Currency:</strong></span></td>
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					<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">The official Lebanese currency is the Lebanese pound or lira (LBP - LL). Notes are available in denominations of: LL,1 000; LL5,000; LL10,000; LL20,000; LL50,000; and LL100,000. There are also LL250 and LL500 coins.<br />
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					U.S. dollars are used widely throughout the country. Restaurants, hotels, and stores often quote their prices in U.S. dollars, and many establishments will convert and provide U.S. dollar prices for you upon request. If you plan to use U.S. dollars, it is advisable to bring small bills (US$1 to US$20 notes).</span><br />
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					<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">The US$/LL exchange rate is relatively stable, hovering around US$1= LL1,500</span></p>
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				<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><strong>Climate:</strong></span></td>
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				<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Mediterranean-type subtropical climate along the coast and in the Bekaa Valley to a generally cool one in the upper mountains. Summers are hot and dry; winters are mild and humid. Frost is rare at lower elevations. The mean temperature in the lowlands is 26.7° C (80° F) in summer and 10° C (50° F) in winter. In some spring months, one can ski in the mountains and swim on the coast, both in the same day.</span></td>
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				<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><strong>Holidays:</strong></span></td>
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				<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Holidays with Fixed Dates: (New Year's Day – January 1, Christmas (Armenian-Orthodox) – January 6, St. Maron's Day – February 9, Labor Day – May 1, Martyrs' Day – May 6, Resistance and Liberation Day – May 25, Ascension Day – August 15, All Saints' Day – November 1, Independence Day – November 22)</span></td>
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				<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><strong>Transportation:</strong></span></td>
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				<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Beirut has frequent bus connections to other cities in Lebanon and major cities in Syria. Buses for northern destinations and Syria leave from Charles Helou Station.<br />
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				The Lebanese Commuting Company (LCC) is a privately owned company, and offers one of a handful of inter-city public transport options available in Beirut. There are 10 LCC bus routes that cover much of the central areas, as well as some suburban areas. Route 1 takes passengers from the airport roundabout, one kilometer from the terminal, to Rue Sadat in Hamra, whereas Route 5 takes to the Charles Helou bus station. LCC also offers pre-payed cards. A yellow card is a continually rechargeable card, and a red card is an unlimited monthly card.</span><br />
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				<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Apart from buses, the latter are served by either service or taxis. Yellow taxis also pick passengers from the international airport, however they are a bit expensive and it is better to order a taxi from a local travel agency.</span><br />
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				<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Taxis in Lebanon are not metered. However there are fixed prices from one destination to another.</span></td>
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				<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><strong>Business Hours:</strong></span></td>
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					<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Shops are generally open Monday through Saturday, 10:00-19:00. Restaurant hours vary, and many restaurants, especially in Beirut, are open late.<br />
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					Banking hours are Monday through Saturday, 8:30-12:30. Working hours for government offices and post offices are typically 8:00-14:00</span></p>
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				<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><strong>Communications:</strong></span></td>
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					<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Telephones: While the telephone system in Lebanon is well-developed, there are few public pay phones, and international phone calls are expensive. Most Lebanese use mobile phones, and coverage extends throughout the country.<br />
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					The country code for Lebanon is (961). This is followed by the local area code and the telephone number. The area code for mobile phones is (03) or (70) or (71) and the area code for Beirut is (01). If you are dialing Lebanon from outside the country, omit the (0) in the area code. </span><br />
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					<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Internet: There are Internet cafés available throughout Lebanon, and many larger hotels now offer high-speed and wireless Internet access for free or for a small fee</span></p>
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				<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><strong>Electricity:</strong></span></td>
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				<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Electric current is 110/220 volts, 50 cycles. A two-pin plug, with round pins is commonly used (Type C, similar to many European countries), but other types of plugs are also in use so it is best to check before you go.</span></td>
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				<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><strong>Tipping:</strong></span></td>
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				<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">You usually tip porters, waiters, hotel staff, guides, doormen, etc. The average rate in restaurants in 10-15%, whereas with other service providers anywhere between 2,000LBP and 10,000LBP are acceptable (depending on service and quality provided).</span></td>
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				<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><strong>Clothing:</strong></span></td>
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				<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Generally there are no particular cultural rules for this matter in Lebanon. Diversity appears also in the Lebanese clothing. For instance, mini skirts can be seen beside Islamic veils. However, wearing short clothing, such as short pants, is to be avoided in certain places such as the souk of Tripoli or Sidon… To visit religious places, modest clothing is required. Women need headscarves when visiting mosques, usually provided there.</span></td>
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				<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><strong>Health &amp; Safety: </strong></span></td>
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				<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">No mandatory vaccinations are required for entry into Lebanon. The medical services in Lebanon are well developed and most doctors speak English or French as they have graduated overseas.</span></td>
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				<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><strong>&nbsp;</strong></span></td>
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				<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">&nbsp;</span></td>
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