04/04/2010 Qadisha Valley

Moussalayha Castle : used to defend the only land route between Beirut and Tripoli. It stands on a rocky outcrop and stands on the summit in such a way as to look like part of the living rock, it’s entrance at the top of a steep- cut stairway.



Along our drive the roads are very windey and I get incredibly motion sick. We stop off in a little town to allow me to recover. Whilst there a lady who owns a shop sees I am not looking to well and invites us to her shop where she introduces us to the whole family and makes tea and coffee for us. Hospitality in this country is amazing!

Qadisha Valley is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful spots in the whole country. A long, deep gorge, the valley rises beautifully and dramatically. The drive to the valley floor is incredibly steep with tight turns and room enough for one car. It is quite scary especially when there are no barriers to stop say a car falling over the steep edge! In the valley the monastery of Mar Elisha (St Elisues) is built into the side of the cliffs.






Drive home in the mountains where we see an amazing sunset which looks as if you could be in Africa. The sunset is breathtaking with the most amazing red/orange colours!



Driving at night on unlit mountain roads is incredibly tiresome. Whilst passing an army checkpoint I end up driving onto the wrong side of the road, to which thankfully no other car was coming the other way!! A soldier comes running up to us and sees that I am ‘Japanese’ and just waves us on. The traffic back into Beirut is absolutely horrible and we get stuck in traffic for many hours. What should be 3 lanes turns into 5 or 6 lanes and basically its if there is space drive into it - non of this if a car breaks down hard shoulder nonsense! I am exhausted and almost at breaking point where I am so tempted to stop of at the next MacDonalds for dinner when all of a sudden the traffic disappears and we are on the move again.

Go for a meal at a fish restaurant down the road from us, which we have been eyeing up since we arrived. The food is amazing.


Along the way home, we walk along the promenade where we can hear shouting and beeping of horns. We get closer to see it is a Palestinian wedding. The family members sees us and come charging up to us, grab us and drag us over to the bride and groom where they proceed to take our photo’s!!! It is amazing…so this is what it feels like to be a celebrity!!!