A day in Byblos - weekend trip (part 2)

To continue from where I last left off, after our Qadisha valley hike, we got the driver to drop us off in Byblos.

Byblos, known locally as Jbail (Byblos is a Greek name) is possibly the world's oldes continuously inhabited city. I read somewhere that about 17 different civilisations inhabited Byblos at some point in history. Along with its historic value, Byblos is also a lovely Mediterranean seaside town.

We had a nice breakfast sitting on a terrace looking out at this

We booked into Ahiram Hotel, a family-run establishment situated in a quite residential neighbourhood, a short walk to the Byblos Souks and archeological site. It was clean and comfortable and while not flashy, has a lovely beachfront view. The downside of being by the beach the loud music coming from a beachfront party/club going on into the early hours of the morning. That said, I was tired from our long day in Qadisha and slept like a baby. Nothing like an invigorating hike to ensure a good night's sleep.

Next morning, we had a leisurely breakfast followed by some lazing on the beach. I found a nice shady spot (the sun was so hot) and spend a lovely hour plus reading a book and people watching. It must have been the first time I felt truly relaxed since coming to Lebanon (things have been really hectic!). If only I didn't have to return to work the next day.

After some beach time, it was time for a little sightseeing. First, we passed the old city wall. Then, we visited St John the Baptist's church, where we ended up having a brief conversation about peace and God with a passing monk. It's a beautiful church with a pretty garden. After that, it was time for a stroll through the souks.

Old city wall

St John the Baptist Chuch

With the garden all decked out for a wedding

Byblos has a wax museum!

The souks are quite touristy with lots of souveniers, knick knack and pricey tourist restaurants. They are well maintained and pretty cool to walk though.

The souks

More shops opened later in the day

Tummy rumblings meant we had to abandon further wanderings and search for a place to it. This was a bit of a challenge with my vegan and vegetarian friends. In the end, we found a small local cafe that sold humus and a few other vegetarian staples. I had the longest chicken sharwarma sandwich I had ever seen, with chips inside!

Feeling rejuvenated, we decided to tackle the Byblos archealogical site. A 7000 LBP fee (just under US$5), gave us entry to this archealogical wonder. There are Neolithic ruins, an ancient necropolis, Phoenician temples, Roman ruins, a Crusader fort and a small museum. All set by the azure waters of the Mediterrenean. I'll let the photos do the talking.

Crusader fort

Roman ruins

Roman theatre

Phoenician Temple of the Obelisks

Partial view of the site from the Crusader fort

The majority of Byblos' population are Maronite Christians. With its open-air bars, cafes and restaurants, the beachside resorts, and the yatches sailing in the harbour, Byblos feels like it's in southern Europe. It's easy to forget you're in the Middle East, until you hear the sound of the azan (call to prayer) ring out over the souks.

This mosque dates back to the 1600s