Yesterday we spent the day outside Beirut in a northern part called Batroun. It is in northern Lebanon, but it is just a quick and gorgeous trip up the coast. One of the girls in my department told us about this trip earlier this week, so we decided to give it a shot. Gretchen from Wisconsin, her husband Mike from Michigan, and our HS principal Fabio from Canada, all went on the trip. Also on this trip were a couple from Iraq, now living in Beirut, 3 college age Spaniards, just finishing a summer working at a resort in Byblos, and their boss, a woman from St Louis, who has been in Lebanon for a long time, and a few Lebanese people. This trip was incredible. First stop was this incredible village called Rachane. One family lives in this area. They are a family if sculptors, so all over this extremely beautiful property were incredible sculptures made from stone and metal. Next stop wine! We went to a wine tasting at a monastery, Adyar. It was amazing. Then on to an ancient fortress with amazing views if the mountains and sea. After that, another winery, Ilixr, which is completely organic and green. Then was lunch under a tree where some other Lebanese families were eating. Let me tell you, the rumors of how gracious the Lebanese are are not wrong. These people were sharing all their food with us, taking pictures, and talking away with us. It was all really surreal. I found myself stepping back and thinking how incredible it all was and how lucky we are to have these experiences. Truly amazing. After that was a weird part, a stop to a duck farm to see how foie gras is made....weird. Then another monastery for more wine. Now we are in the bus ride home.
The whole time I kept saying to Ryan what a truly hidden gem this country is from the rest of the world. It reminded me of Tuscany at times, or Turkey, or Rio, and so many others, but it isn't. It is Lebanon, a truly unique place with great people.
Today should also be great. We are taking a hike with a sunset view up in the mountains. What an amazing country.
Here are some pictures.
A grape vine at a monastery.
One of the sculptures in Ranacha.
The whole group.
A fortress
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