north of lebanon

Beit al Batroun

~ karenkaram ~ 7 Comments

post 18/365

IMG_6983

Take the route through the hills overlooking the old town of Batroun and the Mediterranean. As you go along, the scenery becomes greener and greener. Then continue on a somewhat steeper path that the asphalt has neglected to cover. A few more bumps here and there and you suddenly arrive at a little gem hidden between lush greenery, a little modest and beautiful house that lies amidst its own olive trees. It is here that Colette Kahil has chosen to build her home and surround it by fruit trees laden with lemons, almonds, olives, quinces and more.

Continue reading →

Enfeh

~ karenkaram ~ 1 Comment

Post 7/365

unnamed-10

Enfeh is the only town along the eastern coast of the Mediterranean to be carved out of its rocky surroundings. Some of the carvings go all the way back to the Phoenician period, and possibly earlier.

Along the length of its bay, the salt marshes add a typically pretty note to the landscape, especially with the traditional wind wheel which pumps seawater. The production of sea salt is a staple of its local economy, dubbed the “white gold.” Ancient tablets dating from 1400BC describe the superior quality of its salt. 

Continue reading →

The Sea

~ karenkaram ~ Leave a comment

Post 4/365

unnamed-7

Lebanon, just by pure geography, makes the Mediterranean sea part of our daily lives. It’s length almost three times its width with a 225km of coastline. 
Now that’s nice but that’s all information. What I love about this fact is that no matter how far away I am, I am only a 2 hours drive to the sea. And I do love my sea. Just like Pablo Neruda said “I need the sea because it teaches me”.
I find my peace and my serenity and I realise that I am literally just a drop of water every time I look at its vastness. We have 225 km of pure warm blue beauty. I wish we would take better care of it.

Continue reading →