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A Lebanese Blog

Tag: tourism

Lebanon 2012 summer festivals
The programs of Baalbeck, Beiteddine, and Byblos festivals has been announced over the last few day, and it looks like Byblos has the most interesting one so far. Below are the three programs as announced.

Beiteddine:
- Caracalla Dance Theatre on June 28th, 29th & 30th
- Sylvie Guillem & Russel Maliphant on July 7th
- A night of Tarab, Muwashahat & Qudud on July 12th
- The Cranberries on July 14th 2012
- The Dizzy Gillespie on July 17th
- La Bohème on July 26th 2012
More information here: Beiteddine.org

Byblos:
- Slash on June 25th
- Julien Clerc on July 4thB.B. King on July 5th
- Ute Lemper on July 11th
- Kadim Al Sahir on July 14th
- Snow Patrol on July 17th
- Tinariwen on July 25th
More information here: ByblosFestival.org

Baalbeck:
- Chico and the Gypsies on June 29th
- Zucchero – Chocabeck World Tour 2012 on July 5th
- Saber Rabai on July 7th
- Jessy Normal on July 13th
- Mashrou’ Leila on July 15th
More information here: Baalbeck.org.lb
May 10, 2012
Expect more touristic reports about Lebanon on CNN

According to this article in Al-Akhbar today, the Lebanese ministry of tourism is planning to pay one million dollars to CNN for promotional reports and programs about Lebanon over a period of 2 months in order to boost the tourism sector after the number of tourists visiting Lebanon declined by 300,000 in 2011 due the instability in Syria.

The deal will include reports about Lebanon to be featured in “Quest Means Business” by Richard Quest, “World Business Today”, and a dedicated program called “Eye on Lebanon” for a whole week.

I hope this improves Lebanon’s image abroad for a change, and maybe stops people from comparing ever messed up place to Beirut!

April 27, 2012
Old videos of Lebanon

Check out this collection of old video segments shot in Lebanon during the 40s, 50s, 60s, and 70s of last century. I just love to watch these stuff and see how did the country use to look like before eruption of the civil war.

The videos vary from a report about the events that led to our independence in 1943, to random scenes from Beirut, Jeita Grotto, Telepherique Jounieh, as well as footage of the US marines landing in Lebanon in 1958.

It’s a bummer though that a lot of the listed videos are silent since they’re just offered for preview while the full versions require a license fee, but they’re still worth watching anyway.

Thank you Kheireddine.

March 16, 2012
Beirut once again among the top destinations to visit in 2012

It’s definitely cool to have Beirut among the top destinations for tourists to visit in 2012. But it would also be cooler if editors, for once, focus on other cool stuff to do in Lebanon than Beirut’s nightlife scene. Don’t you think?

You’ll adore Beirut’s juxtaposition of old and new, traditional and downright funkiness. Restored Roman baths stand in the midst of the business district, surrounded by gleaming skyscrapers and an Ottoman palace. At Music Hall, in an old cinema hall, fez-wearing traditional musicians play Arabic ballads for their 15-minute spot, after an ’80s cover band, while cocktail-dress Beiruti women belly dance with their designer-jeans-clad partners supping cocktails. Soldiers with machine guns keep one eye on families drinking coffee at midnight, with squealing kids playing, on pedestrianized Place de L’Etoile square. Le Gray luxury boutique hotel sits a moment’s walk from the bombed-out Holiday Inn, still bullet-ridden from 1976 Lebanon Civil War.

You can check the full list here.

October 27, 2011
Wine tasting in Lebanon

I stumbled upon this article in The Daily Star this morning about wine tasting in Lebanon mentioning companies that organize tours to wineries in the Bekaa valley and the north, in addition to the most famous wineries to visit.

A visit to one of these places will definitely offer something different and more cost-effective than the overrated night life experience and overpriced beaches in Lebanon for both locals and tourists.

Where to go:

Chateau Ksara

Open every day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tours and tasting sessions are available without an appointment, although it is recommended to call in advance. Appointments can also be made for tours of the wine-making process. Contact: +961-1-200-715
Website: www.chateauksara.com.lb

Chateau Massaya

For vintage aficionados, Massaya offers tasting of library wines no longer available on the market, for which calling ahead is preferred. Open Monday to Saturday, 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Sunday 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. during the summer months. Opening hours are shorter during the winter. Contact: +961-8- 510-135
Website: www.massaya.com

Chateau Kefraya

A visit to Chateau Kefraya’s 430-hectare grounds incorporates the winery’s Treasures Room, which includes wines dating back to the chateau’s late ’70s beginnings. Guided visits are available every day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Contact: +961-8-645-333
Website: www.chateaukefraya.com/

Chateau Musar

Lebanon’s most-loved wine export, Chateau Musar is created in the cellar of a 17th century castle in Ghazir, Mount Lebanon. Tasting sessions and tours can be arranged by appointment. Contact: +961-9-925-056
Website: www.chateaumusar.com.lb

Photo via CD Traveller.

July 27, 2011
Freeze Balou’ Balaa! I will shoot you!

Today’s episode of “Freeze I will shoot you” is brought to you from a nice village called “Balaa” in Tannourine, located around 70 kilometers from Beirut. I went there 10 days ago with some friends under the guidance of Mireille (from Life Geeked), who showed us a lot of nice places in both of Batroun, Tannourine, and Laklouk. So Balaa was actually just a stop on a one day road trip.

Balaa is very famous for its 250 meters deep natural sink hole that has been carved by water 160 million years ago! According to Mireille, a magnificent waterfall can be observed during winter and spring with water vapors rising up to the surface, so I’m definitely going to revisit Balaa again.

Moving to the photos…

There’s a distance of around 300 meters separating the sinkhole from the main road, and yes you have to walk to get to it.

And we’re gettig closer..

And here we are! The photos actually do no justice to the location. What appears like a shade in the middle is actually is small waterfall.

As you can see, the place IS dangerous, the edges are a bit slippery and you really don’t want to risk falling down.

The bridge in the middle is reachable, and the below photo is taken from its top.

Yep, 250 meters deep!

The location is suitable for a picnic by the way, but camping is forbidden as per the ministry of environment.

My next destination will hopefully be ammiq.

October 5, 2009
Ministry of Tourism: Lebanon is the place to be

Usually you have 1001 reason to leave this country! (Electricity, water, mobile network, slow internet, Ammar Houri, etc…) But for some reason I find myself attached to it, and more precisely addicted to its capital Beirut.

Below is a nice short video found on Twitter promoting Lebanon and showing how charming this country is despite all its problems!

September 22, 2009
No, Jordan is ugly

On my way to work today, I saw this huge ad at City Mall Dora, it says “Jordan is more beautiful”. Whoever considered posting this in Lebanon should have thought of it twice, because it is both rude and ugly.

Seriously, in what exactly is Jordan better?! L7a22 3layyeh yimkin, I’m not following Amman’s nightlife news these days!!

July 6, 2009
Beiteedine VS. Moussa Castle

Here’s a funny fact:

It costs you more money to enter Moussa castle (Entirely built by one man, Moussa Maamari) than to enter Beiteddine castle.
For Moussa Castle you pay 10,000 L.L. to mainly see a large weaponry collection, while you pay 5,000 L.L. for Beiteddine to see a nice piece of history.

Note that Moussa castle is a private property.

I went to both places today, and it was very nice being in the Chouf area. Some photos coming soon 😉

November 17, 2008
Saida’s Palaces

Although it is the third largest city in Lebanon, but I’ve never went to Saida and made a tour in the city until a few weeks ago. It might not be the best place in Lebanon but WOW, I was impressed!

Call me an ignorant, but I really didn’t even know there was a gorgeous old city there with people living in it! The streets are so tight and cozy, at some places they’re barely 2 meters wide.

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I was also surprised to know that the Audi family (yes those of Bank Audi) were involved in manufacturing soap bars in the old city of Saida, and they have actually established a soap museum in what used to be their soap factory.

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The museum is maintained by “Fondation Audi“. If you get to visit it, you will be able to also the Audi’s palace since the museum is located on the ground floor of it, and they’re both open to the public.

Oh and not only the Audi’s are famous there, but also the Debbane family! They have a great palace in Saida, which is nearly 300 years old, and it is also open to the public. Check its entrance in the photo below.

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It’s awesome from the inside but unfortunately I was not able to take good photos there. However, you can always refer to the Debbane Foundation’s website and preview the available photos there, although I believe they do NO justice to the palace.

I do recommend that you visit Saida in case you still have not done it yet, and make sure to go through the old souk. But, if you’re looking for luxurious places to have lunch and stuff, then Saida is SO NOT for you.

Click to enlarge

April 24, 2008