Visit to the Number One Tourist Destination for 2009

A Visit to the Number One Tourist Destination for 2009 ...

Well the Airline Tickets and Passports are ready; you and I are travelling to the No. one travel destination for 2009 according to the New York Times. It's not a short trip; we are crossing the Atlantic Ocean. I know your fear and what you are thinking: how can you arrange such a long trip and be in the air and trust the airline companies???? Well we have to trust in God, and have faith that we are going to enjoy a nice vacation, thank the captain and the flight crew for a nice and smooth trip.

We are landing in a beautiful place, with nice blue beaches awaiting us, and high White Mountains welcoming us as soon as the flight enters the Lebanese Sky.....

Welcome to Lebanon... Land of Milk and Honey , as the Bible Described it.

Lebnan, Le-b-nan that means the White Mountain, once called "The pearl of the Middle East,” is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea, Israel, and Syria. At one time or another Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians,Greeks, Arabs, European Crusaders, Ottomans, and French all ruled and had influence over the land and its cuisine. The Cuisine of this Ancient Land is diverse and steeped in history; Lebanon is a culinary and cultural Crossroads. Lebanon is located on the Eastern most shore of the Mediterranean in the Fertile Crescent, where Western Civilization is said to have begun. Both the Eastern and Western influences in its cookery are apparent. It combines the sophistication of European Cuisine with the excitement of Eastern Spices.

Here are some information about Lebanon:

1 -Lebanon is only 10,452 km sq

2 -Lebanon has 18 religious communities

3 - It has 40 newspapers

4 -it has 42 universities

5- It has over 100 banks. (that is banks and not branches )

6- There's 1 doctor per 10 people in Lebanon (In Europe & America , there's 1 doctor per 100 people).

7- The name LEBANON appears 75 times in the Old Testament.

8- The name CEDAR (Lebanon 's tree) appears 75 times too in the Old Testament!

9- Beirut was destroyed and rebuilt 9 times (this is why it's compared to The Phoenix).

10-There's 4 Million Lebanese in Lebanon, and there's around 15 Million Lebanese around the world

11-Lebanon, the country, was occupied by over 16 countries: (Egyptians-Hittites-Assyrians- Babylonians- Persians- Alexander the greats Army- the Roman Empire Byzantine- the Arabian Peninsula-The Crusaders- the Ottoman Empire- Britain-France- Israel- Syria)

12-Byblos (city in Lebanon) is the oldest, continuously living city in the world.

13-Lebanon 's name has been around for 4,000 yrs non- stop (it's the oldest country/ nation's name in the world!)

14-Lebanon is the only Asian Country that doesn't have a desert.

15-There are 15 rivers in Lebanon (all of them coming from its own mountains).

16-Lebanon is one of the most populated countries in its archeological sites, in the world!

17-The first alphabet was created in Byblos (city in Lebanon).

18-The only remaining temple of Jupiter (the main Roman God) is in Baalbeck, Lebanon (The City of the Sun).

19-The name of BYBLOS comes from the BIBLE!

20-Lebanon is the Country that has the most books written about it.

21-Lebanon is the only non-dictatorial country in the Arab world (Yes, we do have a President!)

22-Jesus Christ made his 1st miracle in Lebanon, in Qana (the miracle of turning water into wine).

23-The Phoenicians (Original People of Lebanon) built the 1st boat(using the Cedar Wood) and they were the first to sail ever!

24- The Phoenicians reached America long before Christopher Columbus did.

25- 1st law school in the world was built in Lebanon, in Downtown Beirut.

26-People say that the Cedars were planted by God's Own Hands (This is why they're called 'The Cedars of God', and this is why Lebanon is called 'God's Country on Earth

Beirut at Night

Byblos At Night

Jounieh At Night

Downtown Beirut

Downtown Beirut

Another view of my City Beirut

My City Beirut Um Al Dunia

Gulf of Jounieh with the Basilic

City of Jbeil - Byblos the oldest City in the world

from this Place the Alphabets were Created

Jupiter Temple the only one in the world survived the time in Baalback

Ruines of Baalbeck at night - Bekaa (my mom's Village)

Kefraya Village a Wine Village in Bekaa

Lebanese Wine

Zahle - The capital of the Bekaa - Bekaa Valley is famous for its wine and nice produce 70 % of Lebanon's produce comes from Bekaa

(white mountaines are surrounding the valley )

St. Antonio's Monestery - Kanoubeen Valley



Fakra Village




Cedars of the Lord - in Cedars

Cedars of the Lord in the Cedars

Cedars of Barouk Village

The Phoenician Map and where there Kingdom stretched around the Mediterranean Sea, All the areas with red are Phoenician Cities . The Lebanese Cities are circling around the Mediterranean