Between midnight mezze meals and afternoon beers I found that from Beirut, you can take a day trip to virtually any part of Lebanon. From Beirut you head north for an hour or two and hit the ruins of Byblos or the typically Middle Eastern destination of Tripoli, with it’s souks and old charm. Head south to the seaside fort at Saida or down to Tyre, again just a short hour or so from Beirut. It’s a small country, one you can explore quite extensively in a week, although Beirut itself can easily take up that much time on its own.

 

I found myself wondering what to do for a 1/2 day after recovering from a late night in the city that was once called the Paris of the Middle East. The choice was the Jeita Grotto. Something I’d suggest anyone to visit if you happen to be in Lebanon.

Grotto. It’s kind of a boring word, I’ve never really been attracted to other grottos, they’re all pretty much the same aren’t they? Maybe some have more interesting caves or wall paintings or whatever, but the Jeitta Grotto is heralded throughout Lebanon as their greatest natural wonder…well, maybe second to their biblically famous cedar trees. The Jeita Grotto though, is worth seeing.

 

So heading off to the grotto, again just a short drive form Beirut, I couldn’t help but get excited. Billboards and flyers and websites hailed it as one of Lebanon’s best attractions! With such hype, it had to be good, right?

I arrived at the grotto stoked to check out this natural attraction. If you’re wondering exactly what a grotto is, well in this case the Jeita Grotto is an immense cave complex of stalactites and stalagmites. Massive open air caves where the temperature stays steady throughout the year and water drips down through a mountain into these caves. The upper level has crazy stalactites that look like lions and giants, quite the place for an active imagination. The lower level is flooded with water so you need to take a boat ride around to stare at the hundred or thousand year old stalactites.

It’s all lit up beautifully too, giving the cave complex an eerie and magical feel. You really should see it. I’d show you my pictures to convince you, but I can’t. You see, for all of its hype, you’re not allowed to take any photos of the Jeita Grotto in Lebanon. I really wish I knew that before I got sucked in by all the pretty billboards and posters.

 

Upon arriving at the site, you’re promptly directed to lockers to store your cameras. If you think sneaking in a camera phone or small digital camera is going to work, think again. The employees, who look more like security guards, are stationed about every 50 feet throughout the caves…scoping out everyone, on the lookout for image taking devices.

It is a photo-worthy place. Better than any grotto I’ve seen in Central America, North America or Asia (although I could take photos in all of those).

Talking to the people there, it makes sense you wouldn’t want bright flashes going off in the cavernous grotto tunnels all the time, but the fact that no photography is allowed…ever…even without a flash seems a bit extreme.

If you don’t make it there, not to worry, there are plenty of other photo-friendly grottos around the world.

Calling Baalbeck the best Roman ruins ever may be a bit crude, after all these are the remnants of a once powerful empire so it seems somewhat untactful to glorify their demise.

 

But you can’t blame me. Many local businesses survive off of tourists visiting Ephesus in Turkey or the Colosseum in Rome, so why shouldn’t Baalbeck be any different?

Baalbeck?, you ask. You mean you’ve never heard of this place? Sorry, some people spell it Baalbek. Still not familiar?

 

Well, it is quite simply, the most impressive site of ruins I’ve seen anywhere. It’s not in Italy, Greece, nor Turkey. These ruins of greatness are found in eastern Lebanon.

Sorry Europe, sorry Italy – the best Roman ruins aren’t even on your continent.

 

What makes Baalbeck stand out isn’t one particular structure, it is the enormity of the overall complex that remains intact, more or less.

 

From an impressive staircase and forecourt to the immense six pillars of the Temple of Jupiter, the ruins of Baalbeck spark the imagination of even the most weary tourist. Envisioning the hustle and bustle of Roman life from centuries ago isn’t hard as towering structures are found all across the great central court.

 

Intricately carved pillars and stones lie about, some depicting human scenes, others great lion heads. You can picture merchants, scholars and all sorts of people moving about the ruins of this once great city, well at least I can!

 

One of the most well kept buildings is the Temple of Bacchus. An impressive columned structure that now serves as the dramatic backdrop to the Baalbeck International Festival, a special outdoor concert series put on once a year in Lebanon, which draws top talent from around the world to perform in front of the ruins.

 

All this history packed together. Buildings beside buildings. Not just a temple or an outdoor theatre, but an entire collection of ruins that you’re free to wander about. Adding to the charm is that the current city of Baalbeck has a very rugged, old charm to it as well, that somehow blends in with the old ruins in the middle of their town.

 

If you come here looking to be awed by a singularly impressive building, then you may be dissappointed. It’s a ‘city of ruins’ that has to be appreciated as a whole. I shall keep exploring, but as of yet – I haven’t yet found a place of ruins that is of more interest than Baalbeck.