It’s summer and you’re probably asking yourself: “Where is the perfect place in the Middle East to visit right now?” Or perhaps not after seeing dramatic footage of unrest across Syria and the violent protests calling for the ouster of President Ali Abdullah Saleh in Yemen’s capital Sanaa.
That’s not to say there aren’t numerous sights and sounds for adventurous travelers to enjoy across the region. Even the royal couple put Amman, Jordan on their shortlist as a possible honeymoon destination.
Below are Business Today’s choices for a whirlwind voyage around the Middle East and beyond. We also decided to include Ethiopia. A quick jaunt from Cairo aboard EgyptAir for $420 (LE 2,500), Ethiopia will make you forget you’re no longer in the ‘Middle East’ proper.

Cairo — 30°3’N, 31°13’E
To avoid boring those already living in Cairo to death, we’ll skip the capital’s many virtues; it goes without saying that this city shouldn’t be missed. It also acts as a great air hub for travelers heading to Israel, Lebanon, Jordan and let’s not forget, Ethiopia. Stop by one of the many airline offices around the metropolitan area or book online. Business Today recommends checking out travel websites like Travelocity.com and Expedia.com before you go to the official airline webpages, but chaçun son gout (to each his own).

Beirut, Lebanon — 33°53’N, 35°30’E
The city would have been an unthinkable destination 25 years ago in the midst of a brutal sectarian civil war, which ended in 1990. Several structures around the corniche still showcase pock marks and martyrs’ faces on the boulevards. An afternoon spent walking along the Mediterranean coast or eyeing ships from the comforts of a chic restaurant is surely ‘time well spent.’
Lebanon’s five-time Prime Minister Rafic Hariri was instrumental in most of Beirut’s renovation post-conflict, and it seems only appropriate that a statue of the assassinated leader gazes past the capital’s remains, out to sea toward the city of Atatürk. Be sure to traverse Martyrs Square with its eye-catching churches and mosques. Also check out the American University in Beirut campus on the other side of the city. It boasts decent food, engaging students, a large collection of titles in the university bookstore, a surprising amount of feral cats and a magnificent football pitch that looks out into the deep blue sea.

Amman, Jordan — 31°57’N, 35°56’E
Hills upon hills greet you when navigating your way from the Queen Alia International Airport, which is also often times the host to emotional reunions. (The author was lucky enough to be part of an extensive celebration that featured an impromptu conga line, much shouting and an all-around festive atmosphere. The event marked the return of a prodigal son-turned-actor to his homeland, and was, of course, captured on video and countless mobiles.)
The city’s Roman ruins and mostly intact amphitheater at the heart of Downtown are some of the city’s largest tourist draws. At the nearby bus terminal, travelers can voyage to, among others, Petra and Mt. Nebo. Ensure you bring a pair of running shoes and shorts as dozens of young men often come together for fierce, no-holds-barred football matches in front of the central clock. Old men surrounded by discarded pistachio nuts make up the fan base and never hesitate to suggest how players can improve their game.
If you’re into bird watching, explore the rooftops on the city’s hills where young boys use large fishing nets to try and snag circling birds, undoubtedly to serve as the family’s pigeon or dove appetizer.
 Food alert: Don’t forget to make time for the pitas and hummus — Amman’s delicatessens are to die for.

East Jerusalem — 31°47’N, 35°13’E
If you plan trips using ‘to do’ lists, make sure to add Jerusalem’s Old City to yours. Enter either at the Jaffa or Damascus Gate and remember to mind your valuables when navigating the seemingly endless shops and corridors.
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre is a quick left from the entrance of the Jaffa Gate, followed by another left and immediate right. Supposedly the site of Jesus Christ’s crucifixion and burial, pilgrims stream past the Immovable Ladder by the millions annually. Reaching down to touch the rock of Golgotha, where the Bible details Christ’s final hours, is often overwhelming for the faithful who prostrate themselves there. You can also navigate the 12 Stations of the Cross, the route on which Christ carried his cross, called the Via Dolorosa.
Call it what you will, the Kotel, Weeping Wall or Western Wall is often a sea of Orthodox and ultra-Orthodox Jews praying and reciting parts of the Torah. Sandwiched between the rocks of the vast wall are tens of thousands of prayers written out on small pieces of paper. It is thought that prayers will be answered if placed in one of the holiest spots for Jews.
 Above the Wall is the Temple Mount, the site of some of Islam’s holiest mosques, such as the Al-Aqsa Mosque, where the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is said to have made a stop on his midnight journey. Several hundred meters away is the beautiful Golden Dome of the Rock.
 Just make sure to take plenty of pictures, since you’ll be hard pressed to find a more diverse and beautiful place than this on Earth.

Lake Awasa, Ethiopia — 7°3’N, 38°26’E
Although Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa has plenty of vistor-worthy sights, Lake Awasa is highly recommended by bt.
A safari trip south aboard a 4x4 toward the Kenyan border for $400 (LE 2,375) offers breathtaking views of hippopotamuses in their natural environment. If you’re lucky, you’ll get to see them surface among the bull rushes and snort a fine mist of water and air.
 Nearby, the local fish market employs hundreds of boys as young as two to catch fish with sticks and strings. Teenagers line the roads, furiously skinning their catches, throwing scales in one pile and meat in another.
Meanwhile, veteran fishermen in their late 20s and early 30s repair nets, clean instruments and prepare for another day of fishing. Middlemen transport fish to the nearby restaurant as dozens of marabou storks circle above, waiting for the right moment to steal their own treat.
 Watching the sunset under the protection of a mosquito net will put the finishing touch on a pristine day and a voyage out of the ordinary. bt