The Mount Lebanon range in Lebanon, occasionally referred to as the "Switzerland of the Middle East"
Whisper it quietly – there have been too many false dawns since the Cedar Revolution in 2005 – but Lebanon seems ready to reclaim its rightful place on the holiday map. During the first 10 months of 2009, visitor numbers rose by more than 50 per cent (admittedly from a low base) compared with the previous year. In Beirut, the five-star Le Gray opened recently and the Four Seasons is due to open this month.
If you get tired of skiiying don't worry within one hour you can be at a Mediterranean beach anywhere on the Lebanese coast
If you worry that you will find a country wallowing in sadness after years of internecine conflict, terrorism and war, think again. Yes, the pockmarked scars of battle mark Beirut’s 13 quarters, but it is as vibrant, youthful and multicultural a city as I have ever seen. And that is just the start. Lebanon may be no bigger than Wales, but the diversity of its landscapes is unparalleled. Less than an hour away from Beirut lie the swanky beach clubs of Byblos that Marilyn Monroe and Ava Gardner used to frequent (try Voile Bleu and Edde Sands for a taste of that Sixties hedonism). Not much further off are the ski slopes of Faraya – all right, it might not be the Alps, but Lebanon remains one of the few countries in which you can ski in the morning and swim in the afternoon.
For more classical sites, Tyre and Sidon to the north boast the legacies of the Phoenicians, Romans, Byzantines and Crusaders. These are impressive, but they pale into insignificance compared with the Roman ruins at Baalbek, in the Bekaa Valley to the west. The marble temples are bigger, more beautiful and better preserved than anything Rome or Athens can offer. With flights from London taking less than five hours, all this is closer than you might think.
Baalbek is famous for its exquisitely detailed yet monumentally scaled temple ruins of the Roman period.
Source: telegraph.co.uk
Despite the horrible past Lebanon has witnessed for more than over 30 years, I believe our country can become one of the most prestigious in the world…
Let us stop being negative about the population, which some have been brainwashed into acting on behalf of the politicians, and stop making assumptions about these politicians, despite many of whom have done wrong, might be working for Lebanons better this time.
Look at our beautiful country, us expats. can also help our country to prosper… Don’t ask what your country does for you, ask what YOU can do for your country: Jebran Khalil Jebran.
If war was to be led through food Lebanon would have ruled the world!
From charming wines, to colorful plates capable of making happy both vegetarians and all the other meat eaters Lebanon can defend its colors without being shy at all. What is called chickpeas (or pois chiches in French) we call it hummus and make out of it a great Lebanese dish often present in all western supermarkets, but in Lebanon the same Hummus plate can come with plenty of extras that you won’t find in a plastic box sold in common stores. Try Hummus bi Kawrama and a Fattouch. Fattoush is a salad which earned its name after a famine that Lebanon had to go through during the first world war. Fattoush means little search. It refers to the time when Lebanese people used to look in the fields for anything edible roasting their old bread and adding this magical mix to a powerful salad.
All served with a smile… If you like juice try a fresh grenade juice and Lebanon has on its list plenty of special stores with juices and cocktails to keep you coming back. Please visit us for more discoveries… Happy New Year!
SHAHAYYTNI YA CHICO