The night wasn't as bad as many expected apart from wild thunder & lightening rolling and echoing around the valley. Although the heat was switched off as promised, I awoke about 0300 and had to take off a layer of clothing -must have been the two duvets under which I was sheltering.
Our coach and local guide had returned to Beirut for the night, so we had to wait for the road to reopen through the snow. We managed to escape just before 1000 and headed down the valley, Before escaping the snow we passed the weired sight of oranges, still on the tree, with a covering of snow.
Down in Sidon we visited the Sea Castle built just off the coast. It was a bit of a wreck - a combination of age and the pounding sea. Today gave a demonstration of the force of the sea as big waves broke against the ruins, soaring fragmented into the air before flooding its interior. From here we walked into the souk and visited a an old caravanserai (which was being converted into a hostel) and the Soap Museum !
Lunch was taken at a roadside cafe selling a selection of kebabs - but they were much tastier than those supplied by our local chippies.
Back in Beirut we went on a walking tour through a city that had been considerably restored following the end of the civil war - many buildings were still pockmarked by bullet strikes. The orthodox cathedral of St George which was in pristine condition following restoration but there were still the occasional bullet hole in a couple of frescoes. There was a mosque that was built using recycled roman remains and had, as were told, regularly been changed from a mosque to a church and back. We had been promised a visit to the souk but this turned to be a Spanish designed shopping mall with very high end shops - how times change !
Our hotel for the night - the Bella Riva Suite Hotel - was a surprise ! It was just off the Corniche and I had a suite to myself : a sitting room, kitchenette and an absolutely massive bed.
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