The Likeness of Lebanon

Our story begins 7, 000 years ago, just before Grandma was born. Long before history was ever recorded, and far, far away in the country of Lebanon, there existed the oldest city in the world. Byblos. It is now a UNESCO world heritage site, and this place has been lived in since 5, 000BC. And I thought our apartments in Canada were old.

The view of the Necropolis from the Byblos castle. Since the beginning of time, there was El, and El was a god who founded the city of Byblos. Interestingly enough, the city of Byblos traded a lot of Papyrus in those days. For the layman that's what they used to write on. Paper. So because Byblos was trading so much papyrus with other countries, the Greeks took the word for the city, 'Biblos,' and made it their word, for book. And it was from that root word for book that branched the word for Bible - "Ta Biblia."

Byblos castle was built by the Crusaders in the 1100's. As I walked around I thought of Madonna. No matter what era it is, or what sort of facelift it has had, this city adapts to the new era it finds itself in, but still holds on to the previous ages and experiences it lived through, making it even more complex and interesting. Maybe that's just me though. Byblos castle is made of limestone and also the remains of other Roman structures. Back then it was called the Castle of Gibelet. The Roman Theatre, now near the sea, was reconstructed in the 1930's to have the beautiful view of the water it now has, and is about a third of the size it used to be.

A limestone cave just north of Bierut is Jeita Grotto. It's 9 kilometers long and this is where over a million and a half Lebanese people get their fresh drinking water. It also made the list to be one of the 7 wonders of the world, at number 14. An American guy named Will Thomson rediscovered this lower cave in 1873. He shot his gun into the darkness when he first walked into the cave and the reverberations and echos convinced him he had found something of major significance.

There's a lower cave with the above here water, reached only by our tiny boat, and there's also an upper cave about 60 meters above. It looks similar but they wouldn't let us take pictures. The upper cave had the largest ever known stalactite on display. It was huge. The stalactite drips from the top of the cave, and the stalagmite is what's found on the bottom. But everyone knew that already.

And finally, in honor of mother Mary: Our Lady of Lebanon. She is the Queen and Patroness of Lebanon. One of the most significant shrines in the world celebrating the mother of Jesus, she wears a bronze crown and outstretches her hands in the direction of Beirut. The view of the city of Jouneih from her perspective does not leave a person wanting.

Lebanon is bordered by Syria in the North and the East, Cyprus across the Mediterranean sea to the west, and Israel to the south. Even in an age where the reality of complex and otherwise undesirable circumstances finds our world never to be without, Lebanon still boasts rich culture and warm, welcoming, hospitable people, a country like any other.

And so, I bid you goodbye, or in the national language of Arabic:

Ma'a Salama.

Bailey Sue