The roofs of buildings in Lebanon crowded with water tanks and satellite TV antennae have become, in recent weeks, the scene of unusual scenes whose protagonists block the thirst for freedom and fresh air.
After depriving workplaces and their usual hobbies because of the restrictions imposed by the authorities to cordon off the "Covid-19" outbreak, Lebanese chose to occupy roofs for various activities.
Unusual activities have come to light in these sites, some of which provide an unobstructed view of the capital, Beirut, with its semi-deserted streets, with the opportunity to enjoy the view of the sunset.
An AFP photographer, Joseph Eid, spent weeks climbing stairs to discover the way in which the residents conquered this new space with the endless possibilities it offered.
"Since the beginning of the stone house, I felt uncomfortable and from here the idea of going up to the roof of the building arose," said Sherazade Mami, a Tunisian performer living in Beirut since 2016.
This young artist climbs to the top of her nine-storey building daily, with her sporting simplicity and a water bottle for exercise and warm-up on the impact of music.
Like other foreigners and Lebanese who became part of their lives revolving around this outdoor décor, which was used only by fountains, electricians, and plumbers, Shahrazad's perception of Beirut changed.
"I have a view of the whole of Beirut, which is great," she added. Silence prevails in the city, we hear the birds and see the sun ». "It is heaven for an artist looking for a place. This is better than maybe on stage ... It feels great." Sheherazade asserts that she does not intend to stop using the roof of the building even after the lifting of the stone measures. "I have discovered a place where I feel free and I will continue to use it."
Elsewhere in Beirut, yoga trainers Rabih Mudawar and his wife Alona Alexandrova are carrying out acrobatic movements on the roof of the building.
In the coastal city of Byblos, north of Beirut, the Lebanese gymnast Karen Dib is putting her red carpet on, which has become part of the scene in the new exercise hall on the roof of the house.
Also in Tripoli, the capital of North Lebanon, the artist and activist paint a life of an open-air headmaster in her latest paintings.
Unusual activities have seen the light in these locations, some of which offer unobstructed views of Beirut.