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Last Online: 2 Hours Ago Join Date: Tue Jul 2005  |  Lebanese and foreigners alike make tracks down Faraya's slopes -
14th January 2008
By Christian Porth
Special to The Daily Star
Monday, January 14, 2008
FARAYA: Clear skies and plenty of sun awaited Lebanese and foreign tourists alike as families, sledding children, ski enthusiasts and snowboarders eagerly hit the slopes of Faraya to enjoy a leisurely Sunday afternoon. Skiers glided down the paths of Mount Warde - standing at an impressive 2,347 meters - and quickly returned to the lifts to repeat the ritual.
Nakhoul Bteich, an official at Mzaar Ouyoun al-Simane, said that since the ski season opened on December 20 of last year there had been a great deal of tourists visiting the resort.
"We opened at the end of December, and it's good we did since we had a lot of business from people who were home for the holidays," he said.
"There is good work now, but we would have even better work if we had peace and a president," he added.
According to Bteich, January is the best time to hit the slopes since the snow is perfect for ski conditions.
"The quality of the snow is great, though there's not as much as there was last year," he told The Daily Star.
Bteich added that the number of clients from other parts of the region had been decreasing for the last two years mostly due to the ongoing political instability in Lebanon.
"But there have been a lot of foreigners," he said, "Americans, Germans, and Spaniards, among others. Even some who are working in Syria come here because Lebanon has the best skiing around."
And Bteich wasn't exaggerating; foreigners from all over the globe were out in force on Sunday. Julien Riglet, a French national who was visiting Faraya for the first time, said: "This is one of the reasons I love Lebanon. It has the sea, it has the mountain. You can ski, swim. It's really wonderful."
Lars Johansan, who hails from Denmark but now lives in Lebanon, said his trip Sunday was the fifth time he's been there since moving to Lebanon four years ago.
"This is the fifth time I've been here since I moved to Lebanon," he explained. "I absolutely love it. The slopes are really nice and they are very well maintained."
Robert Andrews, a Briton who lives in Yorkshire and whose first full day in Lebanon was also his first time skiing, experienced some frustration.
Sitting at a restaurant overlooking the slopes, Andrews said: "Well, this is my first time skiing anywhere so I've spent a good majority of the morning falling down. I figured it was time to take a break and relax."
But, he added, "I am really enjoying myself and the scenery is magnificent."
The Lebanese were also out in full force.
Rania and Johnny Achkar, who said they have been skiing here for over 20 years, were pleased with Sunday's weather, the snow and moderate crowd.
"This is our third time here since the season began. The snow is excellent right now," he told The Daily Star.
"It's crowded now, but not too crowded," he added. "Wait until February when the weather is warmer. On a typical Sunday there are about 50 percent more people here than right now."
Sunday also saw Rony Tabit braving the slopes for the first time since breaking both his legs skiing 25 years earlier.
"It shook me up a bit," he acknowledged. "But I have an instructor now. Before I was a student but now I work so that simplifies things."
Wassim Abdo, 12, came with his friends and father from Tripoli. The five of them spent the day throwing snowballs, drinking hot chocolate, sledding and jumping into snow banks.
"At home there's too much homework and not enough fun," he said, "so now we're having fun." |
