Baalbeck

10h45 at night from the mountains that overlook Beirut, Lebanon.

I got back an hour ago from a long ride in time and history. I m taking a couple days' trip in Lebanon, country which is only an hour ride from Damas, where I remain based at Steeves' home.

I cought up right away with my old lebanese friend and student from Bangkok who is back with his parents in his country. They proposed to tour me around for the day in the valley of Beckaa. We departured early morning after the traditionnal cheese crepes and tea. Direction Baalbek.
Beirut is right on the Mediteranean cost and is backed by 2000 meter high (at the highest) mountains. In winter you can snow in the morning, swim in the ocean at lunch and go back skiing if you are not tired...

Those mountains are called the Lebanese mountains and could be 20 km wide. We drove the Mercedes in this lunar landscape only inhabbited by bedouins. You finnally get to a view point of the really beautiful valley of Becka. It s a very wide valley (15 km), green, flat and very long. We got stoped about 4 times on the way by either Lebanese army, Syrian army or Hezbolla. Mike's father stops and opens his window with a viril "MarlHaba". Driving along the pavo fields, Doctor V. explains me the complexity of the conflicts that have devastated the country for maybe 20 years until 1990.

On the other side of the valley, you find the anti-lebanese mountains that separate Lebanon from Syria. Baalbeck is the site of an amazing masterpiece of history. Located in this small town that have been for a thousand year the passage for traders coming from Asia and Europe, stands 4 roman temples and a worship area of good size. The building date from 67 AD and have been built for 300 years. The Temple of Jupiter, leader of the gods, still displays 6 22 meters high columns, the biggest in the wolrd (the parthenon s ones are only 7 meters high). They have been made in Egypte and 8 of them are now holding Ste Sophia in Istanbul... small world. Next you have the Bacchus temple which is simply almost complete. It was truthfully unbelievable walking below those giant stones overlooking the valley. The guide was trying to tell the stories of the stones but unfortunatly for her, Doctor V. kept on teaching her lessons. As he says, this valley has a strange magnetism. Blocking all the rain coming from the ocean (and leaving none for Syria), it is surrounded by water sources and anything can grow on this land. Even war... as it s been the place of many slaughters.

We then headed to a small village where Doctor V. used to leave. We ate at this super good restaurant next to a samll water retenue. I hope you can see the pictures soon. Now, i m back at my hotel, on the hill. Tomorrow, i ll visit a cave on the way to Beirut, and will head back to Syria after a walk downtown Beirut. I then plan to spend a week in the desert, in Palmyra, the masterpiece of Syria. I ll probably talk to u from Egypte in around 10 days.