Two nature outings last weekend—wow!

Snowshoeing #2—laid back Lebanese style. This trip was organized by a teacher at T’s school. We were 10 staff and 5 kids of staff. We went to the same area where we’d gone last week (Faraya), but beyond it some. It was a much shorter hike, but superb views and lots of sun. We could see Mt. Hermon, that is on the border between Lebanon, Syria and Israel. Israel reportedly operates a ski resort there that brings in $5 million a year. There were snacks, and more snacks, snowball fights, molasses on snow to dip our fingers into (see photo), sitting around chatting while the kids built an igloo, and singing on the bus...

Hiking. The next day we went on a trip organized by an ecotourism NGO into the Qadisha Valley, which we had seen from above on our trip to the Cedars in August. Traveling with Lebanese folks is so fun—our first stop was to get warm, made to order pastries…. We descended a rocky trail maybe 1000’ to one of the many monasteries lining the cliffs above the valley (actually the Qannoubine Valley). Over the centuries, Christians have sought refuge there from Mamlukes and Ottomans. We met a monk named Pablo Escobar, who hails from Colombia, via Miami, and who’s rather known for flirting with the ladies. A real character, but with the definite air of a holy man. A holy place, to be sure. Dramatic stone dotted with caves and waterfalls, snow and anemones (flowers!), high above a fertile, picturesque valley. The valley is about a quarter of a mile wide where we hiked, double that elsewhere, and holds terrace after terrace built—how many years ago??—of stone. Olive trees and other crops are grown, and there are only a few houses to be seen.

So lovely and energizing to get out of the city.

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Weekly snippets:

From the daily UNRWA “Situation Report” which tells what is going on if anything (usually not) in the 12 Palestinian refugee camps around Lebanon.:

· Beddawi Camp: UNRWA installations are operating.

Yesterday, five students from Grade “9” in the Prefab school were dismissed due to their misconduct. Upon leaving the school one of them addressed a member of the Security Committee with improper words. Consequently, the Security Committee member shot on the air to end the quarrel. No casualties were reported

(hey, at least it was in the air)

· a store near us is called “Clash In Unisex Fashions”

· I notice it isn’t just Christmas that lingers here. It’s 26 Feb. and Valentine red teddy bears are still everywhere