Beirut and the Mediterranean

On our last few days in Lebanon we hung out around Beirut. One of the places we visited is a few miles out side Beirut on a mountain overlooking the city where a statue of the virgin Mary stands, called Harissa. This is a very big pilgrimage site for Christians in Lebanon and throughout the Middle East. The statue is very large and beautiful and can be seen from many different areas in Beirut. There are also two different churches at the base of the statue.
Later in Beirut we walked along the corniche or path along the Mediterranean. We stopped at a spot along the sea called Pigeon rock which is a natural rock formation which looks like an arch. It is a very beautiful spot where many families stop and have picnics, swim, hang out, and smoke shisha (hooka). We stopped there and hung out along the sea near pigeon rock for a long time, it was a very pleasant day!
On our last day in Lebanon we went to a beach a half hour outside Beirut. The beach was lovely, the water very pleasant. The only downside was that it was a rock beach, but it was a very cool spot to hang out.
It was very sad to have to leave Lebanon. I really loved Lebanon, it was my favorite place I have ever visited. The food was incredible, the people very nice, and the country was simply beautiful. I loved how diverse the country was, with mountains with snow, to the Mediterranean beach, to large cities to small towns. The country definitely embraces its diversity, with over 18 national religions it was easy to hang out with people of every different religion at the bars or on the street. The multicultural and modern aspects were very obvious, especially because everyone spoke Arabic, English and French! There were instances in which my friend Jess who I was traveling with (who looks very French) gets spoken to in French at a grocery store and automatically the cashier switches to perfect English and then continues to speak to the next customer in Arabic. Of course Lebanon has special significance for me because my family is Lebanese-American and I grew up eating Lebanese food and hearing stories about my ancestors. Upon leaving I vowed to come back very soon!!

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