Lebanon is a very small country. 60 km from east to west at is widest point and 250 km from north to south. Here people live in far away cities and still take only an hour to reach their work place at Beirut. What luck.
It may be small in size but definitely not so in things to do. My tour guide today told me that it will take her six months to show me all the sights in this country. However, if you don't have the luxury of traipsing around this country for six months, then there are a few places that you should not miss.
This post will cover the beautiful Jeita Grotto and the coastal town of Byblos.
Jeita Grotto.
These are magnificent limestone caves located around half an hour away from Beirut in the Mount Lebanon region. Stalactites and Stalagmites have formed over millions of years inside these breath taking caves. There are two of them; an upper cave which is the larger one and can be accessed by foot. Here you will find three chambers filled with stalactites and stalagmites and various shapes, forms and colours. This cave also contains the largest stalactite in the world, measuring around eight meters. Considering that a stalactite grows by a few centimeters every century, this is one heck of a natural wonder. The lower cave is slightly less impressive, only cause its smaller. The inside of the cave is accessed by boat.
Unfortunately, photography is not involved inside, but no worries, its not a sight you will forget in a jiffy. Details and photos can be found on their official website http://www.jeitagrotto.com
The other must sees are the the three old old old coastal cities of Byblos, Sidon and Tyre. Byblos is located an hour to the north of Beirut where as Sidon and Tyre an hour or so towards the south.
All three have archaeological sites dating to the BC era.
Byblos
Byblos has the honour of being the second oldest continuously inhabited city in the world. When I heard that I was in awe. Can you imagine all that must have happened there, the countless civilizations and cultures that must have made Byblos their home.
The city welcomes you with a beautiful albeit small harbour. Looking at the city, it as modern as any other. Civilizations have clearly adapted to their futures. You will find modern cafes and fast food chains sharing walls and views with ruins of eras gone by.
The main sites to visit are the Crusader Castle (go up to the top, the views are gorgeous), the old souk; which is a set of narrow lanes selling various local trinkets, artifacts and mementos. If time permits, do visit the fossil museum which has very well maintained fossils of marine life. Weird shaped fishes, turtles and even a fish which has eaten another fish!
Both Jeita grotto and Byblos can be covered in a day with another day dedicated to Sidon and Tyre. More on these two towns in another post.
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