Lebanon

Many years ago I asked a Lebanese man of a certain age how he envisioned the future of Lebanon. He replied by sadly shaking his head. 

I never forgot that.

Yet we have just arrived back to France after a brief trip to Beirut for a special family, ‘part two, extension’ of a wedding. 

Apart from the very moving ceremony in the beautiful ancient Church of St Catherine (an Ancient Greek Orthodox Church located in the Northern coastal village of Anfeh, followed by an opulent banquet in a winery estate in Batroun, of the Northern mountains (Mount Lebanon) where the wines are known as Ixsir, and El Ixsir originating from Arabic word for elixir- iksir, it was also an enlightening, very agreeable visit. 

This because despite the obvious economic problems of Lebanon, the essential heart and soul of multicultural Lebanon, its sacred religious heritage, its fabulous, sacred cedars some of which are more than three thousand years old, are still very much alive. So much so that the heritage, the traditions, and above all the precious, veritable multiculture are intrinsic and seem totally invulnerable.

The first natal language young Lebanese learn is Arabic, then the languages they learn at school are English and French. Sometimes they make a choice between the two, but most Lebanese (who are very respectful and friendly) also speak both English and French. 

Lebanon is a very beautiful country.

Text and photographs © Mirinopw. October, 2026