Paris of the Middle East

By Danielle Ghorayeb


My family took our annual trip to Lebanon at the end of July. We go every year to see all of our family and have a relaxing vacation. This year my parents went on different flights than my siblings and I, so it was up to us to navigate the Paris and Lebanon airports on our knowledge of French and Arabic. When I finally got to Lebanon I was greeted at the door by all my aunts, uncles, and cousins. Throughout the trip my family and I did lots and lots of fun activities.  My uncle is building a farm near the biggest lake in Lebanon, so we spent a day there checking out his animals  and the incredible view.  

Capturing a Crescent in Lebanon!

We also went a toured the Grotto Jeita, which was a contender to become one of the new World Wonders. Apart from seeing magnificent architectures and natural wonders, the best thing to do in Lebanon is hit the beach. We went to several different beaches that had beautiful sand and clear, blue water. The best thing to do in Lebanon is eat. When someone eats at a Lebanese restaurant there is always an overflow of food. We start our meals with an appetizer that includes hummus, tabouleh, and foods with names that I can’t type out if it tried. Then we get the main course of chicken, lamb, meat, and kaftah. After we’re done stuffing our faces and can’t eat any more, we get plates and plates of fruits, the main one being watermelon. A lot of the restaurants we visit are in the mountains, so we have a magnificent view while we eat. 

This year a giant portion of my family (which comes out to be around 20 people) went up into the mountains and got to enjoy a wine tasting. We even got to tour the caves in which the wine is made. The thing I always enjoy most is getting to see my family. My immediate family are the only people that live in America, so when I go to Lebanon, family reunions and dinners are completely out of control. This year we had a new addition to the family, my mom’s cousin had a new baby boy, and when we saw him two days after he was born, I literally started crying because he was so precious. Even though all the beaches, food, tourist sites and are incredible; there is nothing more wonderful than spending time with family