In this video, I take you with us to Aley in the Chouf, where we decided to slow down and “nrou2” in the old souks. The first thing I had to show you is the view—Beirut is literally spread out behind us, and it’s one of those moments that reminds me why I love these quick Lebanon getaways so much. We walk around and I point out the details that make the area special, like the carved pieces and the old architectural touches you don’t see every day. What I loved most is how the place carries history in the smallest corners. We learn about the “mihrab” built into the wall, showing the direction of Mecca for visitors who used to come and pray. You’ll also hear how parts of the building were restored, how the pottery tiles (blat fakhkhar) are still part of the identity, and how the old saray once had a prison inside before it became a cultural center. The way the house is designed—with an inner courtyard where men worked and women moved around the home—made me feel like we were walking through a living story, not just a location.