In the Chouf Mountains near Syria lies the grandoise ruins of Baalbek, the scale of which needs to be seen. Towards Israel, Sidon and Tyre are cities mentioned in the Bible, with history way beyond even then. These places can be visited from Beirut, itself a city with much to offer.
A gladiator at Baalbek, possibly 1800 years old.
Little remains of the Temple of Jupiter at Baalbek.
Massive columns supporting Baalbek's Temple Of Bacchus.
The size and dimensions of Baalbek's temples are mind boggling.
The Temple of Bacchus, Baalbek. Built in the late second century.
The green line which divided the city of Beirut saw too much fighting for too long. Even today, bullet marks are visible inside the National Museum, near this building.
Juxtaposition is easy to find on Beirut's green line.
The bullet-ridden Intercontinental Hotel contrasts with a flash billboard, Beirut.
The two soldiers in bottom leftwere suspicous of my photographing, exlaining politely, "we've had a few problems." Talk about understatement.
Beirut water fron by night.
Beitiddone Palace.
Beitiddone Palace.
As war raged in Lebanon, a Druze general rescued these masterpieces. Similarly, Beirut's National Museum staff rescued a priceless collection.
A meeting room in Beitiddine Palace, built 1788.
Beiteddine Palace. William Dalrymple tells the story of the mosaics here in his early book "From the Holdy Mountain."
Under Beiteddine Palace are some of the finest Roman mosaics in the world.
Sacked by the Mongols in 1260, an Ottoman city from 16th century, Sidon has been occupied since the Stone Age.
The interior of a mosque in Sidon.
More views of Baalbek.
Massive building parts lie scattered across the site of Ballbek.
Not much remains of the main temple besides these grand pillars.