- Day 3 E-Mail & Photo Sampler -
Byblos (or Jbail)
plese forgive grammar/etc, using world's worst keyboard in least ergonomic situation imaginable, having great time .......
Took local bus to Byblos. AC died on way there. got there and found gorgeous beach. walked through the ruins, walked by a mosque where everyone was setting outside praying. Were feeling conspicuous until we walked around a corner and were taking pictures of an ancient church and a man ran up to us and spoke hurriedly, we shrugged and asked 'en anglai' (in English?) and he gasped out 'where's the mosque' - we directed him around the corner and it felt good to help a man who was late to prayer.
found a place to buy a pair of shorts. went back to the beach, swam in the Mediterranean and took pictures of local flora and fauna, and a very fine flora and fauna it is! Walked through the ruins, some more amazing stuff, superlatives fail. Crusaders castle overlooking a roman amphitheater set against the sea. serious old archeological site.
walked through the old souks (shopping areas), found a pastry shop with amazing local pastries, had pastries and ice cream, then went up road to have dinner at great little local joint. guy who was waiting tables was student in local university studying computer engineering. a lot of folks here studying technology. Guy at table next to us was wearing American flag tie. amazing how Lebanese feel about Americans, day before saw a girl wearing a very tight t'shirt with flag image superimposed over New York, have seen same shirt in US.
took a different micro-bus back. wound along waterfront and got to take pictures of sunset and street life.
people amazingly nice and polite. everyone helps us on our way and looks out for us. night previous and older Lebanese gentlemen had come up to Keith and rattled something off. Nada was with us and it turns out he was asking Keith directions! guess we do not stand out as tourist too much.
went to dinner w/ nada in city center, smoked a hubbly bubbly ourselves and walked through the activity and nightlife. the Lebanese love a party. met some young men as we were leaving who wanted us to take their pictures, were surprised we were Americans, young man expressed frustration and hurt that Americans perceive him [them] as terrorists. they love America here. the most popular night hangout we keep walking by is a Dunkin' Donuts!! may love us but I sure wish we had a better way to reciprocate than Starbucks, Pizza Hut, KFC, Mac'D's and all the others all over the city.
Patrick can not resist the lure of the blue Mediterranean Sea.
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| Old Port with Crusader Castle in
distance.
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Patrick inside the ancient Castle.
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This view from one of the upper levels of the Castle. | Keith remembers this reconstructed Roman theater overlooking the Sea. |
SEE DAY 3 PHOTO ALBUM FOR MORE PHOTOS FROM THIS DAY.