HOW TO BECOME A RICH PERSON ONLY BY TRAVELING AROUND-PART III

The third and final part of our lovely and inspiring road trip was to Sofar. By the way, I believe and kind of calculated; Lebanon would require 6 months consecutively to be seen in its entirety.

While in Bhamdoun and after having a fancy lunch at Le Telegraph de Belle Vue, we met with a friend whose summerhouse is in Bhamdoun. There are many vineyards in that mountainous area. And wanting to visit at least one, our friend took us to Clos de Cana, to savour their wine. Unfortunately, it was closed. But this hasn’t stopped us from tasting it.

The day was still shining with its summer sun, so we took the car and ran the tires on the road to Sofar.

Oh, what a magical boulevard in Sofar!

Driving through the natural green tunnel drew feelings of joy and thrill.

There were three spots I had written on my agenda for us to visit. The first one is the Grand Hotel Sofar (link to a short video) that belonged to the Sursock Family, a very rich aristocratic family that built many castles in different villages of Lebanon.

Standing in front of this monumental building, I pictured Anna Karenina with her fancy gown waiting to meet with her beau ‘charmant’… and wandered through time, imagining the balls that used to take place, giving my ears to the sounds that were played and the beautiful couples dancing the night away!

Crossing the road in front of the abandoned Hotel lays the discarded train station. Most websites report the history of this kind of transportation in Lebanon, with its many stations.

And our final stop for the day, concluding our lavish road trip is the sumptuously Villa Donna Maria. Driving the hill only to get to its top and marvel this fairytale castle that as some said, was a gift from her husband, the noble Alfred Sursock!

We parked the car, and asked the concierge for permission to see the castle that looked like it was under restoration and reconstruction. There is an immense green field in front of the semi-circled entrance of the castle, nowadays a venue to luxurious wedding parties. We were literally in awe… not that I don’t dream of my own castle, but just by being there, and walking around and through it, was partially a dream come true! And I will tell you why and how; the fact that I was able to visit it with dear friends, and build a memory there, has enriched the pages of my life’s journal.

What did it cost me to do this road trip? Other than the gas tank, and the meal, my willingness to discover and cherish the history and culture that Lebanon offers us!

Easy to criticize the country, by saying that it is going through a terrible economic situation… that there isn’t progress and so on. But here I am, offering to you for FREE the encouragement and motivation to travel through Lebanon, and acquire its beautiful, long and rich culture. Because this is an investment for life, a course you take for free outside the walls of any institution. Traveling enhances my mind with visions, tastes and sounds; and broadens my perspective in all ways – artistically, historically, etc.

Tell me now, what are your plans for the coming weekend?