Abandoned Hotel, Lebanon
(Images: craigfinlay, CC-2.0)
Beirut has come a long way since the bloody Lebanese Civil War of 1975-1990. In 2009, Lonely Planet listed Beirut as one of the 10 liveliest cities in the world, while The New York Times named it the top place to visit. But residents are divided over the loss of the city’s Ottoman and French colonial architecture. This beautiful yet derelict hotel reflects the changing times, as developers and investors favour the concrete jungle over the historic. Photographer Craig Finlay said: “The stairways were all demolished or sealed off with bricks, but… I’m gonna go back and find the heart of this place. it has secrets it wants to reveal to me.”