It’s about time I shared some of my photos from my recent trip to the Middle East with you. Up first – Lebanon! I can’t wait to show you what an amazing country this is. 

The general reaction from most people when I told them I was going to Lebanon was a look of horror and the question “Why would you want to go there?” But like most countries, Lebanon is very safe. It of course has it’s pockets of crime, but tell me somewhere that doesn’t. 

Like many Middle Eastern countries, Lebanon is surprisingly modern. We stayed mostly in Airbnb’s and used Uber to get around. Sim cards are expensive, but we were often able to find wifi at a restaurant to request the Uber as needed. And when wifi isn’t available, taxi’s are plentiful. Just make sure to negotiate the price before you get in.

Lebanon is roughly 60% Muslim and 40% Christian. The pictures below are all taken from Our Lady of Lebanon, a shrine and pilgrimage site for both religions. And in the bottom right photo, you can see an Orthodox church behind us. 

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My favorite place we visited is by far the town of Byblos. Located about an hour north of Beirut, it’s one of the oldest continually inhabited cities in the world. There is history literally dripping out of every building and around every corner. And it’s exceptionally picturesque and charming.

One bit of advice – if you plan to do any souvenir shopping, purchasing and mailing of postcards, etc, this is the place to do it. I thought for sure the towns of Sidon or Tyre would have plenty of options, but I was wrong.

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Perhaps the most surprising place we visited were the ancient ruins of Baalbek. They are remarkably well preserved, and very infrequently visited. We had the place almost to ourselves.

We visited Baalbek on a day long tour from Byblos to Tyre, with stops in Bacharre to see the scenic cathedral, and at the Cedars of the Gods forest. The cedar tree is the national symbol of Lebanon, featured on their flag, and some of the trees in this forest are several thousand years old. It’s truly incredible.

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Our final stop was the beach town of Tyre (or Sour). In the summer months, Tyre plays host to tourist from around Europe, but in the shoulder season we had the place almost to ourselves. Despite its beachy theme, the town itself is actually the most conservative place we went, and a Hezbollah stronghold. But as with everywhere else in Lebanon, I never once felt unsafe. I spent most of my time here wandering around on my own, wearing a tank top dress (it was hot and humid and I’m a wuss!), and was greeted with nothing but friendliness.

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If these photos haven’t managed to convince you to add Lebanon to your travel wishlist, maybe just take my word for it. I wouldn’t recommend it if you haven’t traveled much, but if you’re a fairly seasoned adventurer, Lebanon is a must-visit. And I haven’t even mentioned the food. Lebanese food alone makes it all worth it. More to come on that in future posts!