World Cup Fever is over

I'm starting my blog a week into my vacation in Lebanon. It's amazing to come back to connect with my roots and I've enjoyed my time with the family, as well. I've been to the beach twice already and only once to the mountains.

I was able to catch the last two games involving Spain at a place called Public between Dbayyeh and Antelias, close to Beirut. Amazing atmosphere and it got really crowded. However, it got a bit annoying during the finals when the big screen kept turning off because kids kept stepping on the wire and unplugging the power to the projector. I wasn't supporting Spain nor Holland or Germany as I was slightly heartbroken at the fact that none of the African teams made it. But I figure Africa's turn to shine will be in Rio de Janeiro in 2014. I'm sure that Camila will likely be able to host some of her friends in Brazil if we all plan a trip there. I'm definitely happy that Spain won, however, especially with the high unemployment in the country and the negative economic growth that the state is undergoing during this tough transition in the European Union's history. The Spaniards definitely need a reason to celebrate and what better way to do that than by winning the world cup? Cheers to that.

The beach is an amazing place to start on my course readings. Siena is going to be really hectic, I presume, so I need to plan out a plan of action before I leave. I have three more weeks left and I will seriously miss Beirut. Lebanon is a green paradise in the otherwise arid Middle East with beautiful sun soaked, Mediterranean shores and imposing snow-capped mountains in the winter. Where else can you get a mixture of European, Arab, and African cultures (besides Brazil, that is)?
I would also love to visit another green, fertile mountain called the Jabal El-Druze (i.e. Hawran Mountain, in reality it is an extinct volcano with wet, snowy winters and hot, dry summers located east of the plain of Hawran in Southern Syria.). This is the place from which my family originated from before our 70 year/3 generation-long residency in the West African megapolis, Lagos. I have only visited the region twice before and the last time I went was in 2006. Truly breathtaking scenery as there are rows upon rows of Apple, Olive, Peach, and Almond trees interspersed my rocky wild grape groves. Seeing as I'll be in Rome this summer, it would have been nice to visit the Roman ruins in that region too.
Personally, I enjoy the relaxing mountainous atmosphere and the people that make it worthwhile (i.e. my relatives and my grandmother). In Lebanon, I visited my mom's hometown of Qobey in the El-Metn District of Mount Lebanon yesterday. My grandmother's grape vine has grown wonderfully sour grapes at this moment. It might require a couple more months before they mature and ripen. Which also reminds me that I will be in the wine country of Tuscany in three weeks. I'm thinking of booking a wine tour once I'm there.
This is where I'm going to leave you for now and I'll soon keep you updated on my life this summer.

Ciao,
Hisham J.