Taanayel

This weekend road trip was with some a group of friends. Eight of us piled into a SUV and made our way over the Lebanese Mountains and into the Bekka. It was my first time that far "east" and was blown away (yet again) by the beauty, the food and the sites. Check out the photos here

From small villages to local artisan foods...

Local Druze guys making grape syrup from the newly harvested grapes.

A stay at the local "ecoresort".... straight out of new mexico....

And of course, not be missed... 2000 year old ruins...Aanjar, a rare Umayyad ruin built on the distinct rectilinear grid of the Romans.


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Beino and Olive Oil Pressing

This weekends adventure took me to the most north I had yet to venture - The Akkar. Its olive picking season and the trees were loaded with green and purple little sour devils. This tour and a half visited the Zejd Olive Oil Company and their processing "plant" (a family run business on the bottom floor of their home). Zejd is the only organic olive oil company in Lebanon and its newest family member to take over, Yuessef (sp?) is a master olive oiler. After studying in France, he came back to pretty much revolutionize olive oil for Lebanon. The name of their company comes from the Phonetian name for olive oil, as it is said they invented the liquid substance ages ago in this very land known today as Lebanon. But today, it is Italy that is known for their olive oil, with Lebanon consider substandard...poor. And we got learn how olive oil is made, the steps to mess it up and the techniques to keep it Extra Virgin! Like did you know that you need to keep the olives at a under a temp of 30 degrees C (cold pressed) or else it looses valuable nutrients...and that only extra virgin can hopefully promise that?  Or that pressers mix their oils upon the season to obtain the best blends...that the olives are green (unripened) and then turn brownish purple on the tree...the unripe ones are good for table olives, the more ripe are better for oils. And, in proper olive oil tasting you swirl the oil in a cup, heating the oil with your hand...breathe in the aroma..and then take a sip...not swallowing...and breathe in with your mouth and out your nose...if your throat starts to burn...its a good one!

Check out the images...captions and geo-tagging included!

Deir le Qamar and Beiteddine

Deir el Qamar is a UNESCO protected town with buildings dating back to feudal times. Its a short drive south and east from Beirut. Perched up into the Chouf mountains the village still maintains its windy narrow streets and amazing stone architecture.

















Further up the road is Beitaddine (house of faith), a 19th century palace with styles of traditional damascene, due to the use of Syrian craftsmen in its construction. The grounds include an impressive courtyard, staircases, entry gates, reception hall, a private palace "apartment" and a hamman!


More photos with captions and geo-tagging here


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