Byblos Part 3

So, we made our way back up to The Old City in search of the Manchester United vs. Chelsea game..yes..its true..football fans never take a vacation, and I happened to be in Byblos with some..To their delight, we managed to find a pub where the game was playing..

It wasn’t long before we realized that there were two Americans in the pub who had done the same..They were quite easily distinguishable from the crowd with their loud running commentary of the entire match..I had forgotten how obnoxious the American accent sounds!  Did I sound like THAT? My friends didn’t mind so much, and were quite impressed to find Americans who knew their ish.

Two Americans (well 3 with me included), in Byblos, watching a football match between two English teams..go figure.

Anyway, we were sitting behind them, when I got the idea to snap this photo..

The Americans watching the Man U v Chelsea match..

After the match, we headed back to Hotel Canari de Byblos to watch the sunset from our balcony..but not before spotting this rather odd sight..

"Oh no! My six inch silver heel is stuck in the cobble stone street!"

Where was this woman going with her bleach blond hair, silver pants, and high-heeled boots, at 5:00pm in the afternoon in BYBLOS!?  Did she not get the memo that she was walking around in the oldest inhabited city in the world, during Easter weekend?  Blasphemy I tell you!

Well, I didn’t know where she was going, but I soon figured out from whence she came!

Kookla - Place..Super Night Club

Who could think to put a SUPER NIGHT CLUB in Byblos!   To which someone would say, “well.. it is the oldest profession in the world..”

To which I would reply, “But still!”

Anyhow..after watching the sun disappear under the Mediterranean sea, we headed to Locanda, a Lebanese fusion restaurant located in the heart of The Old Souk..

Lychee martinis.  Minimal tech house.  Fusion Lebanese food.

I was blown away..(the service wasn’t all that good, but I attributed it to the garish costumes that the owner made the staff wear)..and immediately my friends and I started planning the logistics of throwing monthly events at this restaurant that reminded me so much of Miami..

When suddenly my friend turned to me and said, “Can you believe we are talking about minimal tech house, djs, and throwing parties when, in the distance, there are ancient ruins from 2,000 years ago?  Insane.”

The Old Souk at night..

To my weekend lover, Byblos..you were amazing!

Byblos Part 2

After strolling through The Old Souk, we arrived at The Byblos Port..The view of the Mediterranean from the port was absolutely breathtaking..

I managed to get a couple of nice shots of the port with The Old City in the background..I think I’m getting better at this!

Byblos port

Byblos port

The picturesque view made up for the rather mediocre food at La Cafe du Port, a restaurant bold enough to have adopted the tagline, “Saint-Tropez a Byblos.”

"Saint Tropez a Byblos.." riiiight.

The food at La Cafe du Port

After lunch, we took a different route back to the hotel..which led us to a portion of The Old City known for its churches..it was then I remembered that one of the owners of Hotel Canari de Byblos had told me about this area..and how it is a common tradition for people to go visit the seven churches (all in one day) on the Thursday before Good Friday..Seven chuches, in one day?  Maaaaann.  They’ve got me beat.

We were looking out over one of the churches from the street above, when I spotted a Boyscout troup in the middle of a badge ceremony..

Boy-scouts in Lebanon

Do you get more badges for being a boy-scout in the oldest inhabited city in the world?  I should think so.

Byblos Part 1

So, although not very far..I did “get away” for the Easter holiday weekend..

After three months of Beirut (and I talk about Beirut like it’s a possessive lover, because really, it is..) I desperately needed a break, an escape, ANYTHING!

Soooo..

After my first scenic drive through Jounieh, and past the Casino du Liban, we arrived in Byblos.. a Mediterranean city in Mount Lebanon that is believed by many to be the longest inhabited city in the world..

It is amazing what a difference 35 minutes can make!

A big part of the reason we decided to go, was that we found a charming boutique hotel called Hotel Canari de Byblos that sits in close proximity to everything the town has to offer: the tourist center, the Phoenician Castle of Byblos, The Old city, The Old Souk, as well as spectacular views of the Mediterranean Sea.  You can view their website by clicking here and their raving reviews on Trip Advisor here.

Not only were we greeted by the friendly staff, but we ended up sitting down for coffee with the proprietors of the hotel!  A lovely couple who decided to follow their dreams and open up a hotel in the heart of Byblos, quit a massive undertaking indeed.

We talked about life, love, and even their disappointment with Exotica’s recent advertising campaigns!  In my many years of going to hotels, and even working in some, this was a first for me..and yet another reason why I’m enjoying my time in Lebanon so much..

Here is a photo of the hotel,,we stayed on the top floor in one of the suites, which boasted one of the biggest balconies I’ve ever seen!  There is nothing quite like looking out at the Mediterranean Sea from your balcony.. ..it’s amazing..the ocean’s capacity to instantly calm your soul..

Hotel Canari de Byblos

Heeding their recommendations, we headed down to The Old City and The Old Souk..but not before passing some ancient ruins..

Ruins in Byblos

The Old Souk reminded me of my time in the Granada, a city in the south of Spain..with its cobbled stone streets lined with vendors selling anything from fake Dior sunglasses to 100 million year old fossils (insert cheesy narrator voice here)..but really..it is something to see..

Vendor at The Old Souk

The Old Souk

Can't remember when was the last time I saw a Gramophone!