Set in the mountains above Damascus on the road to Lebanon, Bloudane had been desribed to me as a mountain retreat, a haven of peace, a beautiful place to escape the big city. I had visions of a picturesque village clinging to the side of a mountain, log cabins, waterfalls and veiws to die for. The reality is somewhat different!
What used to be a small village in a picturesque setting is now a resort for wealthy Damascenes looking to escape the heat of the heaving city for an afternoon relaxing in a restaurant. The village has lost whatever character it may have had, and is now a mishmash of posh villas and restaurants, each trying to outdo the next with bigger fake waterfalls, longer terraces, more plastic flowers etc... That said, I have always quite liked Bloudane, as you can easily spend a few hours climbing higher to see the last remains of a proper village, before descending for a meal with a view. And there is no denying that the views over Zabadani, Wadi Barada and Lebanon are spectacular.
I will build this page at a later date...but for now, there is a travelogue with more photos and a bit more explanation. |
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