It’s beginning to feel like Fall, a little. It’s been about 80F and slightly less humid. You can walk down the street without sweating. We sleep with a light blanket at night. The AUB students are back and noisy. Bananas and grapes have replaced plums and pistachioes in the markets.

Also, Ramadan started yesterday. Observant Muslims are fasting during daylight hours and celebrating with feasts in the evening. Last night, our landlord’s daughter brought us a plate of one of the many Ramadan sweets, cream-filled and flavored with pistachio. In the more traditional areas, near Bourj al-Barajneh, there are colorful streamers and moon shapes stretched high above the streets. Last night, as I sat on the terrace just past sunset, I could hear families in the apartments around, who had gathered to break the fast (iftar).