{"id":26430,"date":"2023-07-24T00:01:45","date_gmt":"2023-07-24T03:01:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bambisafkar.ca\/?p=26430"},"modified":"2023-07-24T00:13:25","modified_gmt":"2023-07-24T03:13:25","slug":"kadisha-valley-thank-you-roula-douglas-for-sharing-lebanons-beauty","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bambisafkar.ca\/index.php\/2023\/07\/24\/kadisha-valley-thank-you-roula-douglas-for-sharing-lebanons-beauty\/","title":{"rendered":"Kadisha Valley: thank you, Roula Douglas for sharing Lebanon’s beauty!"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Kadisha valley, located at 120 km north of Beirut, is on the UNESCO world heritage<\/em> <\/strong>list since 1998. This means that this superb natural site is considered to be of “outstanding universal value<\/em>” (https:\/\/shorturl.at\/lpuw6<\/a>). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where is the Kadisha Valley located precisely? According to Wikipedia<\/em> (https:\/\/tinyurl.com\/ykt3a25t<\/a>), “this gorge lies within the Bsharri and Zgharta districts of the North Governorate of Lebanon. The valley was carved by the Kadisha River, also known as the Nahr Abu Ali when it reaches the city of Tripoli”. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The term “Kadisha” <\/em>literally means “holy” in Aramaic, which was Jesus’ mother tongue. Thus, the valley is sometimes called the “Holy Valley”. <\/em>Its history dates back to the 6th century with many monasteries, sanctuaries, churches, and caves (all spread around the gorge). Of note, it has “sheltered<\/em>” Christian monks for several centuries (https:\/\/tinyurl.com\/ykt3a25t<\/a>). For instance, it is a place where “Christians used to hide from the Ottoman’s authorities<\/em>” (https:\/\/shorturl.at\/goH36<\/a>). “The valley is located at the foot of Mount al-Makmal in northern Lebanon”<\/em> (https:\/\/tinyurl.com\/ykt3a25t<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Interestingly, the Kadisha Valley is in close proximity to the forest of the Cedars of God<\/em>, “survivors of the ancient Cedars of Lebanon<\/em>, the most highly prized building materials of the ancient world<\/em>” (https:\/\/tinyurl.com\/ykt3a25t<\/a>). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lebanon<\/em>‘s cedar <\/em>(Cedrus Libani<\/em>) is referred to, in ancient botany manuscripts, as “the<\/em> oldest tree in the world”.<\/em> It is well known that “the Israelites brought it back to build the first and the second temples in Jerusalem<\/em>” (https:\/\/tinyurl.com\/ykt3a25t<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To conclude this post, bravo to Roula and Doudou for their five-hour-hike in the middle of this little piece of paradise on earth. Immediately following this text, you can see Roula’s superb pictures [unless Doudou also contributed to this collection :)?]. You may also watch her brief and nice video. To honour “Wadi<\/em>” Kadisha, this post will end with a Lebanese-Arabic song. It is entitled “Aam behlamak Ya Hilm Ya Libnan<\/em>” [I am dreaming of you, Lebanon<\/em>]. In the YouTube<\/em> video shared below, Ms. Majda El Roumy’s old song is performed by two talented artists, Mr. Mike Massy and Ms. Tanya Kassis. Thanks to them!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A picture taken by Roula in the Kadisha Valley<\/em>, Lebanon.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n
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A picture taken by Roula in the Kadisha Valley<\/em>, Lebanon.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n
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A picture taken by Roula in the Kadisha Valley<\/em>, Lebanon.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n
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A picture taken by Roula in the Kadisha Valley<\/em>, Lebanon.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n
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A picture taken by Roula in the Kadisha Valley<\/em>, Lebanon.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n
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A picture taken by Roula in the Kadisha Valley<\/em>, Lebanon.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n
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A picture taken by Roula in the Kadisha Valley<\/em>, Lebanon.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n
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A picture taken by Roula in the Kadisha Valley<\/em>, Lebanon.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n
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A picture taken by Roula in the Kadisha Valley<\/em>, Lebanon.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n
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A picture taken by Roula in the Kadisha Valley<\/em>, Lebanon.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n
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A picture taken by Roula in the Kadisha Valley<\/em>, Lebanon.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n