Two months ago I had the opportunity to go and be part of an amazing community in an extraordinarily beautiful place: Lebanon. Yes! I had found the place where I wanted to live and raise my family.

I was surprised to find out than even by being around Lebanese people and culture I did not know anything about where I was or what I was about to experience.
It was a place like no other, a very cosmopolitan society that has not lost its sense of being and its traditions but yet embraces changes. A land small enough to drive it all in no time but so vast it will take you years to really get to know it.

From the time I set foot in Lebanon I felt secure and well taken care of. This is a country of contrasts between people, beliefs, ethnical backgrounds, religions and landscapes that perfectly balances into a whole to create the most beautiful symphony of life: An organized chaos with unique freedom and respect for all, a perfect example of harmonious community living in its most simple form.

It could not be any more beautiful with a perfect combination of sea and mountains close enough to be in both places almost at once, breathing the salt from one and feeling the breeze of the other.

For a few weeks I stayed in Batroun, a coastal town located between Jounieh and Chekkah, north of Beirut. From there I traveled all the way north to Tripoli and south to Tyr with an occasional cruise around the Lebanese mountains of Faraya, The Cedars, Bescharre among others to visit historical places as well as family and friends. I must admit I reconciled with my faith on those mountain roads, a faith for life, for peace, for family, and I guess a faith for faith’s sake. This country was really magical, the energy that emanates from the Mediterranean Sea is breathtaking and it made me feel…surprisingly grounded.

I was in awe to see all the reconstruction and rebuilding taking place in almost all of Lebanon being more notorious in Beirut where Centre Ville holds the life of its capital city as well as the nightlife, I might add. Sidon was all cranes and works in progress and so was Batroun, which was also gaining importance.

What else can I say, I felt in love with Lebanon, with its people, its zouks, its food, its language, its music. Life just goes on in Lebanon with every turn you make, multiple colors adorn the streets, laughter can be heard everywhere, the taste of Zaatar, sesame and herbs and the smell of Arguile surrounds us all and the strength of cedar wood can be seen in the heart of all its inhabitants.

Lebanon: Shukran! For opening your heart to a stranger… I’ll never forget the kindness and warmth of those other strangers that became friends and family. I still cry those tears I cried when leaving you for your worlds have been shaken.

Remember Lebanon: You Are A Cedar, You Are Strong, keep your heart in its place. We’ll see each other again.

Yalla Bye!!

View Claudia Fortoul-Lander's photography from Lebanon »