Route Map through LEBANON. Coverd approx. 700km on the motorcycles.

May 18, 2006. Hermel Pyramid.

The guide book doesn't mention this Pyramid and the brochure is in Italian.

May 19, 2006. Baalbeck - UNESCO World Heritage Site. The largest and most noble Roman temple ever built.

The Propylaea.

The Propylaea, was completed in mid-3rd Century AD.

The Hexagonal Forecourt.

The Great Court.

Shown here in the foreground is a ritual washing pool. In the distance the Temple of Jupiter.

Recesses decorated by niches which used to contain statues surround the Great Court.

Semi-circular exedrae.

A fallen column of the Temple of Jupiter. These are huge diameter columns.

Partial columns of the Temple of Jupiter and in the distance the snow covered mountains of Lebanon.

The only fully standing columns of the Temple of Jupiter. Ruby stands on the base for size comparsion.

The Temple measures 88 x 48m and stands on a podium 13m above the surrounding terrain.

Originally the temple was surrounded by 54 external columns.

The only six standing columns are joined by an entablature decorated with frieze of bulls and lions' heads.

Here is an example of a lions' head.

West view from the Temple of Jupiter. Snow covered mountains.

Column fragments on the ground.

Entablature decorated with a frieze of lions' head.

A earthquake distroyed most of the Temple of Jupiter.

The tops of the columns. Size comparison.

The Temple of Bacchus or also called the Little Temple.

33 steps lead up to the entrance of the Temple of Bacchus.

Entrance of the Temple of Bacchus through the lofty monumental gate.

The Monumental Gate.

Mike trying to tumble the already leaning column.

The carvings covered the roof of the outer columns to the main structure of the Temple.

Inside the Temple of Bacchus.

Constructed in 2nd Century AD. The Temple is in remarkable shape.

Carving of a Lion.

Entrance of Temple of Bacchus.

The Temple of Venus.

Roman Colonnade Street.

May 20, 2006. Anjar. The best preserved Islamic archaeological site in Lebanon.

Anjar is another UNESCO World Heritage Site and is located close to the Syrian Border.

Remains of the Tetrapylon.

Here two streets intersected.

Anjar is thought to be built around 705 to 715AD.

The Great Palace.

The remains of the palace include one wall and several arcades.

The site has been completely escavated.

Another view of the Great Palace.

Did we mention that it was trying to rain on us. First rain in months.

View over the site.

This is a Umayyad site.

The bath area.

May 21 to 26, 2006. Camping at the Lebanon Coast at Amchit north of Byblos.

To have a warm shower Mike had to first start a fire under the water tank.

Our view from the Camp site.

A typical sun set we enjoyed every night.

May 22, 2006. We visted the Roman Site at Byblos (Jbail).

A very small Roman Theatre at the sea side.

Royal tombs were discovered on this Roman Site.

The stone tombs were excavated and are on this play beside each tomb.

The Royal Tombs were cut vertically deep into the rock and date back to the 2nd Century BC.

Mike standing beside on of the Royal Tombs.

Picture from the site.

The King's Well, a spring supplied the town with water until the Hellenistic era.

Civilization dates back 7000 years.

The Obelisk Temple from the early 2nd Century BC.

View of the Crusader Castle built much later on the ruins of the Roman site.

Artifacts discovered during excavation.

Remains of Status'.

Only remaining Roman columns at the site.

The outer wall of the Crusader Castle was reinforced with Roman Columns.

The entrance to the Crusader Castle.

Inside the Castle.

View of the Neolithic and Chalcolithic huts from the 5th and 4th millennium BC.

The site is located at a beautiful spot.

The small habour in Byblos.

The ancient habour.

The Al-Mina Excavation in Tyre (South Lebanon).

The colonnaded street lead to the old Egyptian habour.

The Roman ruins are under UNESCO World Heritage Protection.

A great view of the sea.

The Roman site is located 87km south of Beirut.

The ancient Egyptian habour.

The unusual rectangular arena.

Approx. 1.5km from the Al-Mina excavations, the Al-Bass site is located.

A well-preserved Roman road made of big blocks of paving stones.

Both sides of the Roman road are lined with tombs...

...from the Roman and Byzantine Period.

Another Tomb.

The Roman Road stretches 1.6km through a Monumental Archway.

Stone paved Roman Road.

In the centre of the U-shaped hippodrome.

The outer wall of the hippodrome sitting arena.

A restored portion of the hippodrome sitting arena.

The hippodrome was built in 2nd Century AD for chariot racing and could sit up to 20,000 spectators.

Well preserved mosaic.

Hundreds of ornate stone and marble sarcophagi.

May 24, 2006. Visiting the Jeita Grotto (Lebanons famous Cave).

The river runs past the caves.

The cable car takes us up to the upper cave entrance.

Since no pictures are allowed inside the cave, these are postcards.

The cave is unbelievable. Extraordinary stalacities adn stalagmites cover huge rooms.

The lower cave is only accessible by boat. This is definitely a must attraction to explore.

We spend two days at the beach at the door steps of our campground....

....snorkling in some clear water. Of course not comparable to the Red Sea.

Mike going for a swim.

This was when the sea was rough...

...and Ruby tried to snorkel...

...and almost drowned.

...Here is Ruby being scared of the waves.

Sunbathing with no one around.

Underwater sea creature.

Mike snorkling in a much calmer sea.

Excellent shore line for snorkling.

Making supper at our campsite.

The road from Amchit to Bcharre.

The Qadisha Valley is scattered with Christian Monuments.

Hand carved Christian Monuments.

Most beautiful scenery in Lebanon.

View of the town Bcharre.

View from the Qadisha Grotto (Cave).

Taking the road from Bcharre over the mountain pass to Baalbek.

Yes this is meters of snow. Elevation 2800m.

The road just opened to traffic.

The temperatures were in the mid plus 20 Deg Celsius.

The Cedars of Bcharre.

This is the last remaining forest of biblical cedars in Lebanon.

Locally known as Arz ar-Rab (Cedars of the Lord).

The cedar forest is located on Jebel Makmel at an altitude of 2000m.

The last picture from Lebanon.