Week 21 - Lebanon
We've had a very special week. As a child, my favorite family member was my aunt, B. She has lived here in Beirut for the past 25 years or so. Naturally, it was where we wanted to spend Christmas. B and her husband own a ground floor apartment in the building in which they live on the second floor. It's vacant at the moment, so we're staying in it. We have our own space, but can run up to visit with them easily. My youngest cousin is here from New York visiting too, so it's been lots of fun. We're quite comfortable, and though electricity is rationed, the building has a generator so we have some form of power almost all the time. The economy here is not good, but in the areas we have been in people are going about their lives, are very friendly, and reasonably happy. We spent our first few days taking care of business. J and I got COVID boosters and we did a lot of Christmas shopping. Part of our plan was to save our purchases for Beirut and hope, in a small way, to support the local economy.
We went for a couple walks on the AUB campus where my uncle is a professor.
We've also just had plenty of time to relax and enjoy each other's company.
Monday after Christmas we went into the mountains with my cousin as a tour guide. The kids wanted to play in the snow and he delivered. He knows lots of beautiful spots and we had a wonderful day.
We got to see the famous Lebanese cedars.
And the seaside town of Beitroun with its Phoenician wall.
Tuesday we went to Jieta grotto, pictures aren't allowed inside the cave, but it's certainly by far the best cave we've been in. It's the 2nd largest in the world, and has lovely intricate rock formations.
Then, at the request of two small boys, we went to find more snow. I kind of like this snow arrangement. In Ohio the kids hope for snow and most adults complain about it. Here, if you want snow you go to the mountains, it's not that cold so it's fun to play in, and when you're done, you leave it behind, no need to shovel or scrape the car.
We had such a good time. I know my blog posting has been off schedule, but we've been spending more time making memories than recording them. Today my cousin goes back to New York and we go to Petra, Jordan for a couple days, then back to Beirut to regroup and on to Cairo.