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I know I've skipped a day, but I have to start from today and then I'll fill you in on yesterday.
Today, Joanna's dad took Joanna and me to Jeita Grotto. Jeita Grotto is a beautiful cave. It almost became one of the natural wonders of the world. It wasn't hard to see why it was one of the places up for consideration. When we walked into the upper cave, it was almost like being in a grand cathedral. The cave was enourmous!!! At once, you were engulfed in a room with big high ceilings from which it appeared grand curtains were cascading down from the ceilings. The rock formations were incredible. The walkway in the cave continued deeper and deeper into the cave and continued to climb. We passed many stalagmites and stalagtites. At one point along the walk, they had a 2-3 foot stalagmite which they had sliced in half to put on showcase. On it, they marked different points along it with an approximate age. It is estimated that this stalagmite is around 1,200 years old. This was an infant rock formation in comparison to others in the cave! It was truly incredible!! As we walked deeper
into the cave, we passed an area of shallow semi-circular pools of water. The water flowed down these formations. A little later down the path, we could look down into the cave and see the emerald pool of water below. Contrasted with the snow-white sparkling walls when we looked up, it truly was incredible.
When we left there, we took a short little "train" down to the lower cave. This is where the pool of water was. We got to go out on the water in little boats. Wow!!!! Amazing. The driver of the boat said the water gets as deep as 7 meters (approx 29 feet) at one point. It was incredible as we floated bast a sand bar, looked up at the rock formations as we floated through narrow passage ways. Words can hardly describe the beauty, serenity and amazingness of the place. If you ever get the chance to visit Lebanon, this is a MUST see!!!! You're not allowed to take pictures inside the caves, so
click here to see pictures.
So, now for the happenings of yesterday... Joanna and I went with her dad to go buy groceries. We went to a couple vegetable stands.
Here, most people buy their vegetables in large quantities and therefore buy them wholesale from the stands versus paying more for them in the supermarket. After that we went to the supermarket. I don't know what I had expected, but it wasn't a supermarket that looked like it could belong in any western country I've ever been to. This market even had a better meat counter than my supermarket at home!!! Walking up and down the isles I recognized many labels from Germany and the US. At a quick glance, it seems I could get everything there that I could back at home.
Later we visited the hermitage for Saint Charbel, one of the four Lebanese saints. We visited the hermitage where he lived mainly by himself and passed away, as well as the monestary nearby where the other monks lived. His body is located at the monestary and the coffin can be viewed. As these two sites are religous sites, it was asked that pictures not be taken inside the church or the area in which he lived. Out of respect, I only have a few pictures from outside the areas.
That evening I went into town
(Jbeil) with Joye, Joanna and two of her friends for cocktail. Nope, not alcoholic beverages, but rather kind of like a fruit cup with ice cream. mmmmmmm... it was delicious. Then we walked around Byblos Souk. It wasn't nearly as packed as it had been Saturday night. The five of us took an old time picture =) It was a lot of fun.
Well, that's all for now. Who knows what craziness will come tomorrow. =)
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