Byblos

"For years, Byblos’s main draws were its Crusader citadel, Phoenician ramparts and Bronze Age ruins of L-shaped temples scattered along a seaside bluff like oversized Lego blocks. Byblos lays claim to being one of the oldest continuously inhabited towns in the world, dating its origins to 5000 B.C., as well as the birthplace of the modern alphabet (“byblos” is the Greek word for papyrus)."

It was a beautifully fascinating place to visit in spite of the rain and where I first learned about arak, a licorice flavored drink. You can see a part of the crusader ruins in this shot standing higher than the other buildings. The water of the Mediterranean is a very clear aqua color here and the ancient architecture everywhere was very intriguing.

[Marilyn Wigen]

Beautiful shot! I love the hillside homes in the distance and the juxtaposition of the modern signage, cars and boats with the ancient architecture. :) Another fav...

[Linda Lorraine]

Gorgeous place!

[katy]

@marilyn Thaks so much for the FAV! It was such an interesting place to visit, full of history and beauty.

[katy]

@lindag Thanks, Linda. It really was!

[MaryBeth Dailey]

I am so jealous you got to stand there and see this in person! Wow! Gorgeous!

[katy]

@espyetta LOL!!! thanks so much MaryBeth!! Is it wrong to be happy about that?! ;~}

[Darlene]

Wow, there was so much for you to see and you sure did pack a lot in this photo, Katy. I love the old and new and the homes in the back on the mountains that remind me of how San Francisco looks when it is foggy. You have a job ahead of you to do something with all the photos you took. I bet they are just awesome and tell quite a story. FAV

[katy]

@darsphotos I am still trying to sort through the photos I took and want to get them printed and into an album so my family can enjoy what I was so privileged to see! Ruth was a fabulous hostess because she took me all over the country to see all the marvelous places and people.

[Darlene]

@grammyn A project for you to do now. You could even record or write about it while fresh in your memory. How wonderful of Ruth to take you all over the country. Only so few get to do something like this.

[Dawn Reilly]

i love the ancient walls and the modern cars, very cool!

[Diane]

This is beautiful and fascinating, Katy. So much history.

[katy]

@sunshinephoto5 Thanks, Dawn! It is a country of contrasts!

[katy]

@eudora I appreciate it Diane! The history is very interesting to me too!

[Don Roos]

Nice shot: thanks for the interesting description.

[katy]

@morrisroos Thanks and you are welcome! I Googled some of it for accuracy. ;~}

[Rick Schies]

A lovely view of the area. Such history

[katy]

@digitalrn Thanks, Rick. there was so much to learn in such a small time about a small area.

[PasadenaRose]

Wow, how cool to stand there and take all of that in, in person. Such an amazing experience and so wonderful that you had Ruth as a willing guide.
Quite a globetrotter, you are. :-)

[katy]

@pasadenarose i can't find the words to express the delight! It would not have been nearly as fun without my wonderful guide @ruthmouch ! She made it the fabulous experience it was!