Beirut, Baalbek, Anjar, Bcharre, Qadisha Valley, Byblos, Jeita Grotto, Damascus
After 6 months on the road, there is nothing like seeing friendly faces, and having those friendly faces show you around a country you know little about, besides some of the less than glamorous stuff written in the press about its past.
More than meets the eye.
Lebanon is an amazing place to get introduced to the Middle Eastern culture. Forget what you might have heard about Beirut or Lebanon in the past. New York Times ranked Beirut as the number one place to visit in 2009, and that same year, CNN reported it as one of the best party cities in the world. After a visit to the famous Skybar, and a few more late nights and large tabs, we definitely agree.
But it wasn’t all partying. In 10 days we visited the impressive Roman ruins of Baalbek- home to some of the largest Roman temples ever built, watched an incredible sunset over Byblos, one of the oldest continually inhabited cities in the world (although, Damascus also makes this claim), wandered through the magnificent Jeitta grotto- currently a finalist for one of the world’s 7 new wonders of nature, and made a trip to my favourite author, Kahlil Gibran's, hometown Bcharre. Perhaps one of my favourite evenings though, was a quiet one spent at our friend Khaled's parents' house, listening to him and his father recount life during the civil war and internalising all that they had been through. They were matter of fact about so much of what they endured, and at times, even laughed as they told some of their stories, like how one day the front of their living suddenly became very open concept, torn open by a grenade. It is moments like these my heart takes it all in, and is amazed by how much more there is to learn- about our friends, their family legacy, their country's legacy... the world's legacy. There is so much more than meets the eye.
A quick trip across the border took us to the fascinating city of Damascus, home to what some consider is the 4th holiest site in Islam, the Ummayed mosque, as well as straight street, written about in the bible in the story of Paul's conversion to Christianity. Seriously old stuff.
Ah, and lastly- the food. The food! Hands down the best in the Middle East. From tasty mezze to streetside manakish to some of the tastiest baklava I’ve ever had, the flavours here are incredible.
Shukran to Lama, Khaled, family and friends for the perfect introduction to the Middle east, and setting the stage for another 7 weeks through Turkey, Egypt and Jordan.
Beirut waterfront
all dolled up for a big night at Skybar
Arabic dancing... or an attempt at it.
Love.
making manakish street-side
homemade ice cream. mm.
gods and goddess at baalbek
graffiti circa 1800's
one of our many large meals
Bcharre, Kahlil Gibran's hometown
poolside, beirut
sunset, Byblos
Damascus at sunset
typical Damascene courtyard (converted Damascene house into boutique hotel)
Ummayed mosque. Many locals seemed to spend the afternoon there, with kids rollerblading about as parents rested in the shade. A peaceful afternoon.
