Beirut
Sunday, 4th March 2018
Outside the Mohammed Al Amin Mosque. A huge, striking amber-coloured blue-domed mosque near Martyrs Square, in ‘downtown’ Beirut. It was opened in 2008 and has four minarets standing 65m high. The blue dome is 48-meters high. Construction on the Sunni Muslim mosque was begun in November 2002, following a donation by late Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. When full to capacity it can, apparently, hold 5000 worshippers.
Tony inside the Mohammed Al Amin mosque. View up to the mosque’s dome and a beautiful chandelier.
Tony inside Mohammed Al Amin mosque.
Three large glittering chandeliers hanging from the cealing, inside the mosque.
Colourful patterned carpet inside the Mohammed Al Amin mosque. Looking towards the minbar (pulpit).
Tony sitting inside the Mohammed Al Amin mosque.
Entrance of the Maronite Cathedral of St George, Emir Bechir Street, downtown Beirut. The neoclassical façade of this late 19th-century cathedral is next to the Mohammed Al Amin mosque.
Roman Berytus Columns at lower street level. A line of five marble columns discovered in 1963. These columns, found to the left of St. George Maronite Cathedral, were once part of the grand colonnade of Roman Berytus, a large section of the east-west main Roman street (Decumanus Maximus).
Tony eating inside Restaurant New Indo-Lanka in Dora Neighbourhood.
The sun setting over Pigeons’ Rock or Sabah Nassar’s Rock (also known as the Rock of Raouché). This rock formation is in Beirut at the end of the Corniche (Avenue de Paris) in the upscale Raouché neighbourhood.
Tony looking out towards the rock formations, which includes an arch and a stack. This is a popular destination for locals and tourists.
Pigeons’ Rock.
Baalbeck
A city located 75 km (47 miles) north-east of Beirut. Most people visit to explore the well-preserved remains of the ancient Roman town. The archaeological complex, which includes a number of temples, was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1984.
Monday, 5th March 2018
Tony touching an intricately carved stone block at the entrance to the Temple of Bacchus.
Tony sitting on an ancient table/platform at the Temple of Bacchus.
Tony standing smiling underneath a lion statue. Right arm touching just underneath the lion’s nose.
Tony with Claire from the Netherlands walking up steps outside the Temple of Bacchus. Claire and Tony were part of the same group of travellers that visited Baalbeck.
Tony with arms in the air looking up into the entrance doorway at the Temple of Bacchus.
Tony outside the temple of Bacchus. Five stone columns towering behind.
Tony with the Temple of Bacchus behind him. Bacchus is the Greek God of Wine.
Saturday, 17th March 2018
Tony smoking from a Shisha pipe at C’Bon Cafe, Geitawi Neighbourhood, Beirut.
Sidon
Sunday, 18th March 2018
Thor and Tony in front of a large globe, a public artwork in Sidon.
Tony pretending to pray at Sidon Sea Castle. He is standing in the doorway of a dimly lit room.
Sidon Sea Castle was built in 1228 by the Crusaders. It is on a small island in Sidon’s harbour accessed by a fortified stone causeway. It was partially destroyed by the Mamluks in 1291 to prevent the Crusaders from re-establishing a base. It was been rebuilt and damaged again several times during the centuries since.
Tony walking up stairs inside Sidon Sea Castle.
Another view up the stone stairway.
Tony chilling at a square in Sidon.
Tony and a pelican. The large bird is next to a parked car.
Tony and Thor with sunset behind.
Tony and Thor with sunset behind. Caption: ‘Thor: 144 countries without flying’ and ‘Tony: 126 countries blind and 80% deaf!’.