Turkey/Lebanon June 11 - by David (aka Dad)

After only four hours sleep, we had to arise to get to the airport on time, so we were up at 6 a.m. and left by 7 a.m. We arrived at the airport without further incident, and caught our flight to Beirut.

From the airport we went to Jessica’s apartment and took a short nap before heading out to Beiteddine Palace, built in 1788 - 1818 by emir Bashir Shihab II.

The trip alone to get here was an experience. First, our driver had to wend his way through the streets and traffic of Beirut and then drive the long and winding road up the canyon to the palace. Only part of the palace is open to the public, the remaining portion being the summer home of the Lebanese president. It is an impressive building. I was particularly taken by the thick support pillars we observed underneath the emir’s residence, and the intricate tile work in the rooms.

After that, we stopped at Moussa Castle. This is a hard one to describe. It is like a child’s image of a medieval European castle, built in the early 1900s as a museum of sorts. There are representational dioramas of Lebanese life, and a huge collection of weapons, primarily rifles. It was built by a private individual, with a couple of the displays being figures of him, his wife and their children. It really was quite interesting, but just not what one thinks of when one envisions a castle and/or museum.

Next, it was a stop at the grocery store, and then home. Jessica fixed us tacos for dinner. Then, Karma and I both tried to do journal entries, but only succeeded in falling asleep.