Gourmantic recently celebrated its second anniversary, and with nearly 400 articles under its belt, it’s time for a little navel-gazing. The purpose is not to ascertain how much weight has been gained from delectable food and drink experiences but to review the progress and reminisce about good times in travel writing. My 7 Links is [...]

When the car stopped near a gravel path during a visit to the south of Lebanon, little did we know what to expect. Situated 10 kilometres southeast of the city of Tyre, the village of Qana/Cana lays claim to the first miracle performed by Jesus where at a wedding in Galilee, he turned water into [...]

This article won 1st prize in the May Grantourismo HomeAway Writing Competition “Food & Travel”. I could be anywhere along the shores of Nice, Tangiers or Agrigento. The unmistakable blue of the Mediterranean always calls to me. Here, at Dar sur Mer, the view from the white-washed balcony of our holiday home puts me in [...]

In some countries, it is customary for the locals to offer a parting gift to people who visit them. During a trip to Lebanon, we toured the archaeological sights of the coastal town of Jbeil, north of Beirut. The town is also known as Byblos and has been in existence for millennia. Today, it boasts [...]

The outdoor swimming pool at the Mir Amin Palace hotel is famous for its unique mosaic carpet. Located just a few minutes drive from the historic Beiteddine Palace in Lebanon’s Chouf mountains, the hotel dates back to the 19th century when it was the residence of the Emirs. Renovated into a five star hotel, it [...]

Standing in front of this natural wonder rising from the sea, I could not understand why lost souls would come there to contemplate or commit suicide. Beirut’s natural wonder left me with nothing but boundless inspiration. The Raouché is to Beirut what the Cedar is to Lebanon, a timeless symbol of the city and its [...]