Another view:
This is a view into the Qadisha Valley from the steps of the Gibran Khalil Gibran museum. Gibran was a Lebanese-American poet, artist, and writer, probably best known for his work "The Prophet". Taking pictures inside the actual museum is not allowed, but there must be photos floating out there, somewhere. A former monastary carved into the side of a mountain, the museum is a beautiful space filled with his writings and original artworks, as well as the site of his final resting place. Gibran emigrated to Boston in his younger years, and only made it back to his hometown of Bsharri after his death.
"Faith is an oasis in the heart which will never be reached by the caravan of thinking." - Gibran
I have a thing for doors - especially closed ones.
The symbol of Lebanon, Cedrus libani. There used to be giant forests of it carpeting the mountains, but all that is left now is a tiny patch. Mentioned abundantly in the Bible, the trees were used to build King Solomon's temple in Jerusalem, ships for those itinerant Phoenicians, and as an ingredient for mummifaction in ancient Egypt. More recently, they have provided inspiration for the megaband U2, resulting in the subpar, kind of depressingly atmospheric song "The Cedars of Lebanon". The trees are very very large, and obviously, very, very old.
More to come.
