24 May 7, 2017 Travel www.thearabweekly.com Agenda Dubai: Through May 25 “Mary Poppins,” a musical play, will be performed at the Dubai Opera. It is the story of a nanny who flies around with her umbrella and can find any- thing in her bag. The produc- tion involves the audience in adventures through fantastic effects and choreography. Beirut: Through June 1 Souk El Tayeb is a weekly market that hosts more than 60 producers from across Lebanon with food products as well as traditional and Dar Alma in the coastal city of Tyre in southern Lebanon. (Courtesy of L’Hôte Libanais) handmade crafts. Souk El Tayeb is open 10am-4pm each Thursday at the Village Guest houses offer a welcoming Dbayeh. Algeria: May 10-24 way of discovering Lebanon The 18th European Cultural Festival in Algeria brings to- gether artists from more than Samar Kadi The gist of the endeavour is to have the Lebanese people open a dozen countries to perform their houses to foreigners looking traditional rhythms, jazz and Beirut to better understand Lebanon and flamenco. It takes place in gain first-hand experience of Leba- Algiers, Tlemcen and Constan- eeling at home” is the nese hospitality. tine. idea behind L’Hôte Li- “This is how L’Hôte Libanais “ banais — the Lebanese started. I went from neighbour- Rabat: Host — 15 guesthouses hood to neighbourhood and from May 12-20 and boutique hotels village to village knocking on doors carefullyF selected to give guests and sharing my idea,” Haddad said. The 16th annual Mawazine genuine insight into traditional The first guest houses of L’Hôte Festival takes place in Rabat Lebanese living. Libanais started operating in 2005- featuring international and Nestled in quiet village quarters, 06, receiving both foreign guests local performers. This year centuries-old buildings hidden in and the Lebanese who wanted to international artists and bands the mountains or artsy apartments explore their country. including Charles Aznavour, tucked in the heart of Beirut, the “This is how global travelling is Anoushka Shankar, Lauryn guesthouses are scattered across moving now,” Haddad said. “Today Hill, Najwa Karam, Nawal al- Lebanon, with each having its own people are looking for something Zoghbi and Demi Lovato are cachet and characteristics. more genuine. The old tourism on the programme. L’Hôte Libanais introduced with impersonal large hotels has guesthouses to Lebanon 15 years probably changed into something Dar Al Achrafieh, an old guesthouse of L’Hôte Libanais tucked in Palestinian territories: ago, guided by a belief that “the that is more focused on the expe- the heart of Beirut’s neighbourhood of Achrafieh. May 13-18 best way to experience a country rience. It is an experience with the (Courtesy of L’Hôte Libanais) is to share its food and to mingle food and the area itself.” The tenth Palestine Festival with the local people,” said group L’Hôte Libanais members are banais family since 2005,” Azar said intention of turning the place into a of Literature — PalFest – takes founder Orphée Haddad. carefully selected through strict of his 90-year-old house with its art boutique hostel. place across historic Palestine. criteria that combine the physi- deco furnishings and painted ceil- “There was a small stone house The annual travelling festival cal with the flavour and feel of the ings. on the land, so we decided to build includes free public events, The gist of the place. “It is special because, first of all, a bigger one for us. Then we built such as readings, workshops, endeavour is to have “Architecture is one of them but guests are staying in a traditional another small house for our friends music performances, debates, the building should not necessar- Lebanese house and with a Leba- and guests, then another and an- meetings with authors and the Lebanese people ily be old,” Haddad said. “The place nese host. They feel that they are other. Now we have 12 houses scat- artists and visits to historic open their houses to should have something to tell about really in Lebanon. I welcome them tered in the olive orchard, which sites. foreigners. Lebanese history, about the coun- personally, give them directions we later turned into guesthouses,” try and its traditions but the most to places to visit, to museums and Bazerji said. Dubai: important criterion is to show a dif- restaurants. These are small things The houses differ in size but they May 17-20 “Although the Lebanese people ferent Lebanon than the Lebanon that they appreciate and make them all have a small terrace and a kitch- are very hospitable, the tourism that was shown for years to tour- feel at home.” enette. Some have two bedrooms The ninth Dubai Tango Festi- industry in Lebanon for years was ists.” For those who want to experience and a living area and the place is val is scheduled for the Mey- mainly based on hotels in Beirut, Just walking distance from the Lebanon’s traditional village life, equipped with a swimming pool, a dan Hotel and includes tango from where tourists would go on Beirut nightlife hub of Gemayze, the L’Hôte Libanais offers a selection of bar and a restaurant under the olive workshops, milongas along day trips to visit historical sites,” Sursock Museum and downtown guesthouses nestled in high moun- trees. with famous tango dancers Haddad said. “Those who did not is Jamil Azar’s guesthouse, Dar Al tains or in the heart of olive groves, “The place has become our baby. and singers. know anyone in Lebanon were Achrafieh, in one of the Lebanese such as Rola Bazerji’s Bouyouti in In every house there is everything stuck in places mainly dedicated to capital’s mythical neighbourhoods. the Chouf Mountains. the guests need to make them feel Amman: tourists and did not have a chance “It is my family house where I was When Bazerji and her husband at home,” Bazerji said. “The area is During June to experience what real Lebanese born. It has two rooms for guests decided to build a summer home very popular with foreigners and life is.” and has been part of the L’Hôte Li- under the olive trees, they had no Lebanese alike, with its touristic Starting on the third night of sites, like Deir el Qamar, Beiteddine Ramadan, Amman each year Palace and the Cedars’ Reserve of celebrates traditional Arab Barouk. We are located in the mid- culture with the Citadel Nights dle of an open museum.” Festival. The city comes to life All guesthouses of L’Hôte Liba- each night of Ramadan with nais operate on a bed-and-break- concerts, recitals of classical fast concept. Jacqueline Helwanji’s Arab music, traditional dishes breakfast at Dar Qadisha is an exam- and authentic souks. ple of genuine traditional food. Breakfast includes homemade jams from fruit that Helwanji grows Marrakech: in the garden of her 100-year-old July 1-31 house in the village of Hasroun overlooking the famous Qadisha The annual Marrakech Valley, mankoushe, known as the Festival of Popular Arts and Lebanese pizza, with fresh zaatar Folklore showcases Moroccan (thyme), local goat cheeses, organic traditions, music, dance and eggs and labneh (strained yoghurt). costumes through the ages. With prices ranging $80-$250 for Visitors attend concerts, ex- a double bedroom per night, L’Hôte hibitions and Moroccan street Libanais offers individuals of all troupe performances. budgets the opportunity to dis- cover and fall in love with Lebanon, We welcome submissions of Haddad said. calendar items related to “L’Hôte Libanais’s experience is cultural events of interest to about a coming together of people, travellers in the Middle East place, aesthetics, and tastes,” he and North Africa. said. Please send tips to: http://www.hotelibanais.com/ [email protected] A view from Bouyouti, a boutique hotel in the heart of the Chouf Mountain. (Courtesy of L’Hôte Libanais) bed-and-breakfast/hotels/..