Any Travels

Lebanon lies at the eastern end of the Mediterranean Sea north of Israel and west of Syria. It is four-fifths the size of Connecticut. The Lebanon Mountains, which parallel the coast on the west, cover most of the country, while on the eastern border is the Anti-Lebanon range. Between the two lies the Bekaa Valley, the principal agricultural area.

Lebanon is Mediterranean; mild to cool, wet winters with hot, dry summers; Lebanon mountains experience heavy winter snows

Until mid 70s, it was a very popular destination for both travelers and businessmen. The capital Beirut was considered as Paris of the middle east.

The civil war changed that. Now that the war is over, Lebanon is getting back on its feet. And it still is a lovely country with ancient monuments, great nature scenery, and the possibility to ski and go the the beach on the same day.

Baalbek is also on your must see list. The ruins are very impressive. Baalbek can be visited easily from the town of Zahle, which is worth a visit itself.

On the coast you'll find several nice places to visit as well, such as Sidon , Tripoli and Tyre. The mountain scenery of Bcharre is great and you should try to find the time to go hiking there.

Don't miss visiting Jeita cave, it's something you wouldn't want to miss.

Places of Interest:

Beirut
Once known as the Paris of the Middle East, Beirut really took a beating during the long civil war in Lebanon. The city underwent a major transformation in the years following the cessation of hostilities, particularly in the downtown area and it's now a city of vibrancy and charm.

Beirut is a city of contrasts: beautiful architecture exists alongside concrete eyesores; traditional houses set in jasmine-scented gardens are dwarfed by modern buildings; winding old alleys turn off from wide avenues; and swanky new cars vie for right of way with vendor carts.

Baalbek
Baalbek is a must visit in Lebanon. Even for people who visit Syria it is worth the detour from Damascus to see the impressive roman ruins of Baalbek. Located in the northern Bekaa Valley, it is one of the world's oldest cities. It has the most impressive classical ruins in Lebanon and it's one of the most important Roman sites in the Middle East. The main sight is the Temple of Jupiter. Only six of the original 54 columns are still standing but these alone give you an idea of the incredible height of the building. The columns are said to be the largest in the world.

Though smaller than the Temple of Jupiter the nearby Temple of Bacchus is a wonderfully preserved architectural beauty. Take your time walking around its outer portico marveling at the intricately carved stone. From this position you also have a good view of the huge stone blocks that formed the foundation for the Temple of Jupiter—some of the blocks are believed to weigh more than 1 000 tons. Finally enter the Temple of Bacchus at its eastern end walking up the flight of stairs and through the ornate doorway.

Baalbek can be seen as a daytrip from Beirut or it can be visited together with Zahle.

Bcharre
This splendid mountain resort is perched above the eastern end of the beautiful Kadisha Gorge. The town's red-tiled roofs olive groves and mountain scenery remind us of a Greek village-or half a dozen other scenic spots along the eastern Mediterranean. Although it's popular both as a cool summer retreat for coastal dwellers and a winter base for snow skiers Bcharre can seem downright dead in the off-season. Sightseeing options are limited to several churches and the Gibran Museum which pays tribute to Khalil Gibran Lebanon’s most famous author and Bcharre's native son. Bcharre is also a convenient base for visiting the Cedars of Lebanon or hiking in the 30-mi-/50-km-long valley below. Note that the road leading east from Bcharre over the mountains into the Bekaa Valley (and to Baalbek) is open only during the summer. 40 mi/65 km northeast of Beirut.

Sidon
Sidon (currently named Saida) is the Capital of South Lebanon. Saida is rich with historical events... The sea castle is one witness of Saida's history. If it happens that you visited Lebanon, don't miss visiting Saida, escpecially if you like the Lebanese sweets...

Tripoli
Tripoli, the capital of Libya, is well worth a visit. Although the oil boom has produced quite a few ugly buildings, the jumbled streets of the old town still offer a taste of Tripoli’s ancient charm. The city sites include a few museums Zell am See, the Gurji Mosque and a U.S. Army cemetery that dates from World War II. Spend some time walking along the harbor to see the Roman Arch of Marcus Aurelius (AD 163) the Turk and Al Mushir suqs. There are also some excellent beaches just outside the city.

Great Roman ruins can be visited as day trips, include Sabratha and Leptis magna.

Tyre
Tyre (Sour) was built in ancient times on a small rocky island near the coast. In the 10th century B.C. King Hiram of Tyre constructed two ports and a temple on the mainland sector of the city. This was the era when the famous industries of Phoenician glass and purple dye were developed. Behind the walls of the old city the Tyrians successfully defied Nebuchadnezzar for 13 years. Alexander the Great also laid siege to it for 7 months, finally overwhelming the island city by constructing a great causeway from the shore to the island. Over the centuries, however, the causeway was silted up, turning Tyre into an isthmus. In biblical times it was in Qana (Cana) near Tyre that Jesus turned water into wine at the wedding feast. In 1980, modern Tyre's impressive Roman and Phoenician remains prompted UNESCO to make the town one of its world heritage sites. Despite its location in the deep south 79 km from Beirut, where conflict often occurred during the war, Tyre has become a prosperous town notable for its many high-rise buildings. At the same time the inner city has retained its industrious maritime character and its old-style houses.

Culture

Lebanon has one of the highest literacy rates in the Middle East. A compulsory five-year primary school program is followed by either a seven-year secondary program or a four-year program of technical or vocational traning. Major universities include the American University of Beirut, the Universite Saint-Joseph (subsidized by the French government and administered by the Jesuit order), the Lebanese University (Universite Libanaise) and the Beirut Arab University (an affiliate of the University of Alexandria). Some famous writers include Khalil Gibran, Georges Shehade and Michel Chiha.

Lebanon is host to the Baalbeck International Festival, an annual music fest. At one time, international opera, ballet, symphony and drama companies worldwide performed in Beirut. Some Lebanese artists are active in European opera and theater companies, while others are trying to create a wider audience for classical Arabic music and theater. Dabkah (the national dance) and zajal (folk poetry) are enjoying a revival.

About 60% of Lebanon's population is Muslim and 40% is Christian. The largest Muslim group is the Shiite (Shia) sect, followed by the Sunni and the Druze. The Druze are one of the religious curiosities of the Middle East. Originally an offshoot of Islam, they have diversified so much from the mainstream that they are often considered to constitute a whole separate religion. The Druze believe that God incarnated himself in men at various times and that his last, and final, incarnation was Al-Hakim bi Amrillah, the sixth Fatimid caliph who died in AD 1021. They believe in reincarnation and that there are a fixed number of souls in existence. Druze gather for prayer meetings on Thursday evenings in inconspicuous halls; outsiders are not permitted to attend and the rites remain highly secretive. The largest Christian group is the Maronite sect, followed by the Greek Orthodox, the Greek Catholic, the Syrian Catholic, the Chaldean, the Protestant and the Orthodox churches.

Arabic and French are the official languages in Lebanon although Arabic is by far the most widely spoken and English is becoming common in business circles. Arabs place great importance on civility and it's rare to see any interaction between people that doesn't begin with profuse greetings, inquiries into the other's health and myriad niceties. As an ajnabi (foreigner), you're not expected to know all the ins and outs, but if you make the effort to come up with the right expression at the appropriate moment, you'll be respected for it. In fact, any effort to communicate with the locals in their own language will be well rewarded. No matter how far off the mark your pronunciation or grammar might be, you'll often get the smiling response 'Ah, you speak Arabic very well!'

Lebanese food combines the sophistication of European cuisine with the excitement of eastern spices, and it is Lebanon's culinary contributions that have been the greatest influence on modern Arabic cuisine. Dishes from the Lebanon provide the framework for the exotic cuisine recognized internationally as Arabic.

Many traditional Lebanese dishes are simple preparations based on grains, pulses, vegetables and fruit. Often the same ingredients are used over and over, in different ways, in each dish. Yoghurt, cheese, cucumber, aubergines, chick peas, nuts, tomatoes, burghul and sesame (seeds, paste and oil) are harmoniously blended into numerous assorted medleys. Parsley and mint are used in vast quantities as are lemons, onions and garlic.

Pastries are stuffed with vegetables and vegetables are stuffed with meats. Meat may be made into nuggets then cooked over charcoal. Presentation is always artistic: even the most basic dish is beautifully garnished -- a sprig of parsley here and a dab of yoghurt there.

A typical Lebanese meal starts with mezze (pictured) -- this can be an elaborate spread of forty or fifty hors d'oeuvres or simply a salad and a bowl of nuts. But it is always a social occasion when friends and family gather to enjoy appetizers and conversation before dinner. A meat, (lamb is the favourite meat) chicken or fish dish follows with salad and rice.

There are two types of bread, the flat pitta pocket (pictured) found everywhere in the Middle East, and marcook -- a thin bread baked on a domed dish over a fire.