~ Famous Sites ~

BEIRUT ~ Approaching Beirut either by sea or air promises an unforgettable sight. The mountains rising behind the city are bathed in sunlight 300 days of the year and in winter, they glisten under a blanket of snow.

The destroyed town center in once again active. Its former reputation as a crossroad between three continents and gateway to the East is not only restored, but also updated. The new city planners hold computer-rendered plans that show an extended coastline, a new mixed residential area, and touristic recreational zones built around a central park. And all unhindered by traffic thanks to underground parking areas and wide routes giving access to the downtown district.

A tour of the old downtown should include the Omari Mosque, the Municipality Building, the Assaf and Amir Munzir Mosques, the Arcaded Maarad Street, the Parliament Building, the Roman columns on Nejmeh Square and the historic Greek Orthodox and Greek Catholic churches opposite the Parliament. Sundays afford a special opprtunity to those who appreciate the best in horse racing. Beirut's race track run pure bred Arabians. Fans of this sport can change their dollars, sterlings, etc... on the spot to place bets.

The city was destroyed in the sixth century by two earthquakes, a tidal wave and later in the century by a fire. Beirut also fell prey to conquerors from all parts of the ancient world. But after each disaster, it was able to rise and recapture its splendor.

Beirut's 1.4 million residents want you to expect no less of their city this time. Its commercial and cultural life is already on the mend. Itshas 80 banks, countless import-export firms, port and airport and free exchange market. The city's seven universities are graduating the movers and shakers of the next millennium and Beirut's multi-lingual media take full advantage of freedom of the press.

The best way to see Beirut is on foot. A good place to rest the muscular souvenirs in your calves is the area of Raouche, where Beirut's famous Pigeon Rocks stand tall and proud in the sparkling sea. Area restaurants serve local and foreign cuisine and cliff-side cafes offer a good range of snacks.

BAALBEK is nested in a plain between the parallel ranges of Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon mountains. It is one of the world's greatest historical sites, the most gigantic complex of Roman temples ever built, its columns are the tallest ever erected, its stones the largest ever used.

The Acropolis of Baalbek is the largest and best preserved corpus of Roman architecture left to us. Its temples, dedicated to Jupiter, Venus and Bacchus (larger than Parthenon in Athens), were built in the second and third centuries A.D. The ruins present a majestic ensemble: two temples, two courtyards preceded by propylaea (ceremonial entrances), and huge blocks particularly the three which each measure between 19-20m. by 4.5m by 3.6m., and a boundary wall upon which Arab architecture has left its traces.

Six immense columns (20m.) still soar upwards from the holy place where the Temple of Jupiter once stood. Baal-Bek, or town of Baal (who was a Phoenician god) gave the name to the town that still is in use.

For a number of years Baalbek's flooflit mercurial columns presided over the annual renowned international festival which featured theater groups, orchestras, ballet troupes and performers from all parts of the world.

Cedars ~ Altitude: 1850m Distance from Beirut: 130km

Getting there: Take the autostrade to Shekka, south of Tripoli, and then turn up towards Amioun. From there the road passes along the side of the Kadisha Gorge through Kousba, Tourza, Hadet, Hasroun, Bazaoun and Bsharri. The journey from Beirut takes 2 1/2 hours.

Al-ARZ (The Cedars), named after the ancient unique trees which form a forest in the heart of the village. Hundreds of young Cedar trees have been planted around the area during the last 30 years, but since they only grow at a rate of 1 cm every year, it will be many generations before these saplings reach the impressive size of those in the forest.

In addition to the Cedar forest, there are a number of sites of interest in the area. The town of Bsharri is best known as the birhtplace and resting place of Gibran Khalil Gibran, Lebanon's most famous mystic poet, artist and novelist. The Gibran Museum, is a converted monastry, houses his paintings, drawings, and personal effects, as well as his casket. The town also has three churches and a waterfall.