Oct 13, 2008 9:40 am US/Pacific
'Spiderman' Climbs Hotel In Beirut, Lebanon
BEIRUT, Lebanon (CBS) ―
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Alain Robert takes a moment to measure the wall of the New York Times building as he climbs his way to the top earlier this year. On Saturday he climbed to the 23rd story of the Phoenicia hotel in Lebanon.
Jonathan Evan Goldberg/CBS Viewer
Thousands of people gathered outside the premises of the Phoenicia hotel in Beirut to watch the French Spiderman Alain Robert climbing to the 23rd story on Saturday.
Before he climbed the hotel tower Alain Robert told the Associated Press television that every time he wants to climb he feels nervous "You know before I ascend I always feel a little bit nervous but this is a very usual stage."
On Saturday a shaving company launched a new razor blade by sending the French climber Alain Robert (aka "Spiderman") up the side of the hotel. The daredevil "builderer," who has conquered more than 85 of the world's most famous man-made landmarks by applying techniques used for rock-climbing, made short work of the 22-story building in central Beirut. Robert usually climbs with just his bare hands and climbing shoes, but also used safety ropes for his Beirut ascent.
Maria Nouri, an architect said that Robert was very courageous "What happened was amazing we just saw the guy climbing with his own bare hands, it was beautiful. He is very courageous"
Robert has scaled 85 giant structures around the globe including many of the world's tallest structures, most of which he has scaled using only his bare hands and climbing shoes.
Robert began climbing as a young boy, scaling rock cliffs in the area around his home. His buildering career began at the age of 12 when he forgot his keys and was locked out of his parents' eighth-floor apartment. Instead of waiting for them to return home, he simply scaled the exterior wall to his home.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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