24 October 8, 2017 Travel www.thearabweekly.com

Agenda

Beirut: Through October 12

In its 17th edition and marking its 20th anniversary, the Beirut In- ternational Film Festival is set for the Metropolis Empire Sofil with special screenings at Cinéma Montaigne and the Sursock Mu- seum. The festival programme includes long features, short films and documentaries in addi- tion to Lebanese premieres.

Sidi Bou Said: Through October 21

The 12th Musiqat Festival takes place at the Ennejma Ezzahra palace in Sidi Bou Said, Tunisia. The festival includes a variety A general view of Bsharri in northern Lebanon. (Bsharri Municipality) of music shows, such as fado, gnaoua and flamenco. Artists from Spain, Tunisia, Iraq, Portu- gal, Morocco and Austria are to perform at the festival. Bsharri, the inspiring Beirut: Through December 28

Events associated with Sursock Museum Late Nights take place hometown of Khalil Gibran noon-9pm each Thursday at the Sursock Museum. The event includes exhibitions, collection Samar Kadi displays, late-night talks, perfor- mances and screenings.

Bsharri London: October 19-November 5 ostly known as the birthplace of Leba- The Nour Festival of Arts high- non’s famous poet — lights contemporary Middle East- artist and philosopher ern and North African arts and Khalil Gibran — Bshar- culture in venues across Kens- Mri, a quaint and welcoming town ington and Chelsea in London. nestled in the heart of the Qadisha The festival programme features Valley in northern Lebanon, is rich exhibitions, music, cinema, food, in history, natural beauty and cul- talks and dance performances. ture. Bsharri, 1,500 metres above sea Abu Simbel: level, is capped by the emblematic October 22 millennium cedar forest called Arz el-Rab (Cedars of the Lord) and The Sun Festival at Abu Simbel Qornet el-Sawda, which, at 3,000 takes place in February and metres, is the highest point in Leba- October to mark important dates non. The town overlooks the sacred associated with Pharaoh Ramses Valley of Qadisha, a UNESCO herit- II. When Ramses II built his age site where 17 Christian Maron- temple, it was positioned so that, ite patriarchs have been buried in on his birthday and the date of natural grottos since the seventh his ascension to the throne, the century. inner sanctum would be lit by “Bsharri premises extend from the rising sun and illuminate the 1,000 to 3,000 metres above the sea Gibran Museum, formerly the Monastery of Mar Sarkis, in the town of Bsharri in northern Lebanon. (Wikipedia) statues of the sun gods. Twice a level. It is known as the town of Gi- year, people gather at the temple bran but throughout history it has along the banks of the Nile been the cradle of resistance against Mar Sarkis monastery built into the displayed in addition to letters that project started in 1995,” said com- River to watch the sun rise and occupiers of Mount Lebanon. It has rocky slopes overlooking the town. Gibran wrote to Mary Haskell, the mittee member Joseph Rahme. celebrate with food, dance and unique natural beauty and harbours The monastery, which has been American teacher who discovered “We have planted 130,000 cedar singing shows arranged by local the history of Maronite Christians in converted into a museum, houses Gibran’s genius and supported him trees with funding from companies, performers. Lebanon,” said Bsharri Mayor Fred- a large collection of Gibran’s paint- financially, professionally and emo- banks, associations and individu- dy Kairouz. ings, drawings and gouaches, some tionally. als.” Dubai: “While encouraging tourism, of his manuscripts and many of his Young trees are planted on land November 1-April 7 the municipality’s main aim is to personal belongings, including his Topped by the donated by Bsharri municipality preserve the natural and historical library, which were shipped from millennium cedar near the old forest, the site of 1,700 Global Village is a large seasonal wealth of Bsharri from chaotic de- New York. trees, Bsharri cedar trees aged 50-2,500 years. cultural event that offers visitors velopment,” Kairouz said, adding “Gibran bought the monastery overlooks the “Our aim is to connect the Ce- an array of festivals, shopping that “placing red tiles on rooftops while he was in America. Obvious- sacred Valley of dars of the Lord with cedar forests and entertainment in an open- has become mandatory and new ly, he wanted to return to Lebanon Qadisha, a UNESCO in (nearby) Tannourine and Ehden. air theme park. This entertain- sewers were built to preserve the and live and expose his paintings in We want to recover our peaks and ment and shopping destination valley and the mountain from pol- the monastery but he died before heritage site. mountains with cedars, the symbol is open from November through lution.” achieving his dream,” said museum of our country, the same way it was April and hosts more than 70 A visit to the Gibran Museum is an Director Joseph Geagea. “Many of Gibran’s paintings de- historically,” Rahme said. participating countries presented inevitable stop in Bsharri. In keep- Gibran’s National Committee, picted women who marked his life,” For $100, anyone can adopt a ce- in more than 36 pavilions. Par- ing with his wishes, Gibran (1883- which was founded in 1932, reno- Geagea said. “There is his mother, dar tree for life. The Forest of Leba- ticipants can enjoy more than 50 1931), who immigrated to the Unit- vated the museum and opened it Mary Haskell, Emilie Michelle, who non Cedar Friends will plant the tree rides and 26 restaurants offering ed States and published his most to the public in 1975. Some 440 of was one of his teachers and it is and take care of it until it is 18 years food from around the world. famous work, “The Prophet,” in his paintings, including the origi- said that he loved her, also Barbara old, an age after which the tree can 1923, was buried in the 19th-century nal drawings for “The Prophet,” are Young, his sister Sultaneh who died flourish without being tended. Tunis: at 14, and poet May Ziadeh, who “Each tree will carry the name of November 4-11 was the platonic love of his life and its godfather or godmother and their whom he never met.” nationality. Sponsors can follow the The Carthage Film Festival is “Our mission is to promote and evolution, growth and health of the an annual event that showcases show Gibran’s art and paintings tree either in the forest or through films from the Maghreb, Africa through exhibitions in different the internet. It is a multinational ce- and the Middle East. In its 28th parts of the world. When you say dars forest, the forest of the whole edition this year, the festival will ‘Gibran,’ you always get the same planet,” Rahme said. take place in Tunis and other answer, he is the author of ‘The Bsharri is a diverse, year-round parts of Tunisia over eight days. Prophet,’ although he was an artist destination. In winter, skiers slide A parallel programme includes before being a philosopher and a on the slopes of Lebanon’s oldest world cinema projections, semi- writer,” Geagea added. ski resort near the cedars. In sum- nars, debates and meetings. An ecological advantage of Bshar- mer, trekking in the sacred valley ri is its proximity to Arz el-Rab. It and exploring the many ancient harbours a modern nursery for ce- monasteries built in the rocks We welcome submissions of dar trees run by the Forest of Leba- around the valley is a main activity. calendar items related to non Cedar Friends, a committee In all seasons visitors can taste ex- cultural events of interest to set up in 1985 to salvage Lebanon’s quisite traditional cuisine for which travellers in the Middle East millennium cedars from desertifica- the area is famous. and North Africa. tion and vandalism by irresponsible Please send tips to: A cedars forest near the town of Bsharri in northern Lebanon. picnickers. Samar Kadi is The Arab Weekly [email protected] (The Forest of Lebanon Cedar Friends) “The Reforestation of the Cedars Travel and Society section editor.