Lebanon, A Brief Memo.
From vibrant Beirut - historically referred to as the Paris of the Middle East - to the Beqaa Valley, it’s a place steeped in centuries of history, with a culturally dense fabric. It’s endlessly fascinating.
This is Lebanon - a nation on the shores of the eastern Mediterranean. It borders Israel to the south, and Syria to its east and north. The bustling metropolis of Beirut - affectionately termed the Paris of the Middle East - is its capital and is centrally located. The city envelops visitors in its warmth while stupendously assaulting the taste buds (truly, rarely does one have a bad meal here).
Farther afield, excursions to the Beqaa Valley—visiting the ruins at Baalbek and Anjar; passing time in Byblos, and indulging in some truly tasty vintages at Ksara, were all remarkable experiences.
Undeniably, the historical context is complex, and the cultural fabric rich. To be sure, trying challenges continue - it was humbling to broaden our learnings, and the people - stalwarts of resiliency - were excellent teachers.
Make it a pin 📌 on your next visit to the area.
Seductive Sicily
Quattro Canti or Piazza Vigliena - A Baroque square in Palermo, Sicily.
Rounding out our Mediterranean island feature series, we’ve saved, in my opinion, the best for last. The largest of the islands and I would say, the jewel of the Mediterranean, Sicily.
Sicily certainly has a certain kind of allure. An island steeped in centuries of history, its cultural tapestry is rich, owing to various influences across the region - the Greeks, Romans, Normans, Arabs; the list carries on. This amalgamation of influences creates a beautiful harmony in its existence today.
Just off the Strait of Messina, the island lies to the west of southern Italy’s boot - its toe to be more precise, while the vibrant cities of Taormina, Catania, Siracusa, etc. (destinations not to be missed), straddle the deep blues of the Ionian. Further up to the northwest, sits its capital and commercial hub, Palermo, a bustling metropolis with plenty of reminders and nods to its regal past (do plan to check out some of its well kept palazzos), and further afield charming towns such as Cefalu, Trapani and Erice, all hugging the Tyrrhenian.
Your options are almost boundless here. There’s so much to see and do - you’ll need multiple trips. It’s a place I’ve visited a number of times and still yet to cover it all. As one might expect, you’ll eat (and drink) very well here. Naturally, given its island status, all manner of seafood feature as star of the cuisine though myriad other choices are present as well. The local wines are also a treat; there’s something for just about every palate.
Having visited the island a number of times (even pre-the White Lotus craze - all in good jest), we’ve covered a good swath. For bespoke itineraries to Sicily, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Cruising Through Cyprus
The 9th Century Greek Orthodox Church of St. Lazarus, Larnaca.
Continuing our series on Mediterranean island features, today we spotlight one that may not immediately come to mind, the beautiful island nation of Cyprus.
Owning to its eastern Mediterranean location, just off the coasts of Lebanon, Syria, and Turkey, it holds an advantageous position of having temperate year-round weather, so one may visit a good chunk of the year and still bask in favorable temps (this feature is from the Fall, Oct.)
It’s a unique island in that a good swath of the central south-west, the Republic of Cyprus, is Greek-speaking, while the north-eastern area, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, is Turkish speaking. The capital, Nicosia (or Lefkosia), sits at the center of both regions and it is possible for one to cross to the other, on foot (just make sure your passport’s handy).
Traversing the island is quite straightforward and easy via the impressive interconnected highways and we also found each town to have its distinct characteristic. In addition, the history and culture is rich - Paphos Archeological Park is must see, amongst others.
Overall, a delightful time. Make it a pin on your next visit to the area.
A Corsican Affair
The utterly charming city of Bonifacio in south Corsica.
As we enthusiastically usher in the spring equinox here in the Northern Hemisphere—the change in season with warming temps, rows of fields all abloom, lazy afternoons on park lawns and, eventually, sizzling beach vibes, excitement’s in the air. Over the next series of posts, we’ll thus be featuring some of our favorite Mediterranean islands to further inspire your next vacation destination.
First up: Corsica (featured). What a marvelous place. From chic Bonifacio in its southernmost tip (a mere 13 or so miles from the north of Sardinia) to the capital, Ajaccio (the birthplace of the notorious Napoleon Bonaparte), and the northern city of Bastia, this island, though relatively smaller in comparison to some of the others, packs a punch.
Simply put, it’s a stunningly beautiful island with a fascinating range of terrain and vegetation. Outdoorsy types and those with a penchant for hiking/trekking will enjoy its abundance of wilderness and on the other hand if you’d rather opt for some R&R, the coastline offers excellent beaches where one can while away the afternoon.
If food and drink’s more of your inclination, it produces an impressive array of tasty wines, and an addictive aperitif, Cap Corse (which I desperately went in search of post my return to NY). The cuisine’s a mix of heavily influenced Italian and French staples - given its history - though it certainly boasts its own Corsican specialities. In addition to beauty and nourishment, we also found the people to be courteous and welcoming.
Make it a pin on your next visit to the area.