Thursday, October 15, 2009

Beginning to explore Lebanon - Jeita Grotto

The Jeita Grotto is located about 18 kilometers from Beirut. These caverns, among the largest in the world, are a result of time and the perfect elements of limestone and moisture. It is difficult to describe the magnitude of these caves. You walk into the upper cavern and you are stunned by the beauty of the stalactites and stalagmites as every sense is stimulated. You feel the moisture and coolness of the cave, smell dampness and sweetness, hear dripping and crackling, and visually you are in a cathedral created by nature, on another planet or a scene that could not possibly be replicated at Universal Studios. You have to leave touch to your imagination because you would never want to interrupt this work of art by human interference. The oldest part of these caverns started forming 12,000 years ago.



The countryside as we approach the caverns

We couldn't take pictures inside, so we thought we'd need some kind of proof that we were there.


These pictures are borrowed from the web.

Upper cavern, which you explore by walking down a small pathway.
We could have stayed all day and let our imaginations take us away.



Lower cavern, which you see on a small boat.

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Harissa




Far above the city of Jounieh, about 15 km north of Beirut, you will find Harissa, the mountain top where the magnificent statute of "Our Lady of Lebanon" (the Virgin Mary) overlooks Jounieh and beyond.












View from the gondola as we travel 650 meters from sea level almost straight up to the mountain top where the statue overlooks much of Lebanon.



Needless to say, there was not much conversation nor movement going up. The gondola was old and creaky. I just prayed that we'd just get to see "Our Lady of Lebanon".



The bascillica, combines the shape of the Lebanese cedar with a Phoenician ship. The hull is turned upside down in hopes of slowing the emigration of Lebanese to other countries. Through the windows behind the altar stands the statue of "Our Lady of Lebanon". This was magnificent.




Our Lady of Lebanon", built in France and dedicated to the people of Lebanon in 1908





Monday, October 5, 2009

Construction of the ISF Academy in Progress

The current kitchen at the Academy





The current "barracks" soon to be replaced by new dorms






The current barracks and classrooms





Construction begins with the excavation for the new kitchen







and renovation of old classrooms

The reason we are in Beirut - Paul's new jobs

Paul works for an American Company contracting with the State Department. His job is to oversee the construction of a new police academy, communication system and the acquistion of equipment for the Lebanese National Police or Internal Security Forces (ISF). He also has visited numerous ISF units and went on a marijuana eradication operation in the Bekaa Valley. Another part of the mission here is to train 8,ooo ISF Police Officers in the next several years in U.S. style policing.
Paul the Contractor



Paul the Farmer
Surrounded by a crop of 6 foot tall marijuana (soon to be hashish) plants




A few of the hundreds of ISF Officers at the eradication party in September.


The ISF destroy hundreds of acres of high grade marijuana.

Thursday, October 1, 2009

Lebanese Barbecue

Our friend and chef, Imad. Notice the MJ shirt he bought on his recent visit to the US

Our feast of tabouleh, fattoush, hummus, baba ghanouj, meat & cheese pastries, flatbread, barbecued lamb, chicken, sausages, onions and of course argeela (hookah) with coffee and dessert.
Yes those are french fries on the table.

Imad with his family



Sites in Beirut



Pigeon Rock as seen from the Corniche, a four mile walkway along the Mediterranean Sea


Beach along the Corniche



Restaurant, could you get any closer to the sea?



Town Square



The largest of many Mosques, with Roman ruins in the foreground



Among all of the new construction are memories of the Civil War



Tank Monument to Peace after the Civil War (1975-1990)