Snow and a Road Trip

It's been a cold first week of March, perfect for walking around the snow-covered Bekaa Valley. So we jumped at the our friends' invitation for a day trip around rural Lebanon.

The view east, towards the Anti-Lebanon Mountain range and Syria.

Jimmy, our host for the road trip, holding a frustrated Jane.

We left around 11 am, right in the middle of mini-blizzard at the top of the mountains. Luckily for us, Jimmy and Madeleine had four wheel drive. Jimmy is also a seasoned veteran of driving through Lebanese snow.

Jane was a trooper for most of the trip, although at times she would have preferred being back in the warmth of Beirut.

Once we got over the mountain pass, we spent a few hours exploring the farmlands of the central Bekaa, drove south around Lake Qaraoun, and had dinner at the Kefraya Vineyard.

The views of the snow-covered Lebanese Mountain range was stunning.

Jane is a couple of generations removed from her farming roots and shows more interest in the camera than in the livestock.

Jimmy, photographing Madeleine and Ellie, next to Lake Qaraoun.

As the sun was setting, we reached Marjayoun, a southern city close to the Israeli border. Wade and Megan had never actually been there -- we always got turned around at the checkpoints near the border. But now we were with Jimmy, who used his powers of persuasion (and native Arabic) to convince the Lebanese Army to let us through.

Once in Marjayoun, we had a great conversation with a local gas station owner. He pointed out where the Israelis invaded in 2006 and where Hezbollah counterattacked. Jimmy translated, of course.

It was long day. Our three friends -- Jimmy, Madeleine, and Ellie -- tolerated Jane's periodic screams. Nor did they mind Wade's unusual curiosity for local history.

They were the perfect road trip partners for the Morrises.

Jimmy and the gas station owner, recreating the '06 war.