1- where's the government? where's UNESCO? I think one of the biggest problem in baalbek is to preserve the site, which has an impressing and maybe (because am italian and i over-take care of such OPERE D'ARTE) even under-estimated importance, and to implement systematic activites of maintenance. But nothing of that was done. The answer is that there're no found, no money to do that: i don't know, but in my humble opinion UNESCO as well cannot answer like this, "washing its hands", as their mission is for definition to take care of World Heritage (and Baalbek is here listed since '80s). Consequences: the guide leaded us to a "private museum", which was nothing other than a small shop here they tried to sell us ancient roman, greek and byzantynum coins; vases; and many other objects taken (=stolen) in the site.
2- in the shop i bought small souvenir of Lebanon, like pins, iron cedars, and a big flag which i was looking for since long time, thinking to put it in my bedroom, and each time i need to hold it as much i'd like to hold Lebanon land. Curiosity: i asked for Lebanon flag and the shopkeeper: "Do you want the HA's one, or the red&white one?"......WHAAAAAT????? is there any doubt about which one is THE lebanese flag ?!? funny, but not so much, if you don't forget that this area is a main (rather hidden) HA's headquarter...
A great idea after Baalbek was to visit and have lunch in the area of Kefraya, very famous for its high-quality wines. In particular we went to Château Kefraya, which in the opinion of my friends has one of the best ratio quality of wine/beauty of the place. Château Kefraya vineyards are not yet fifty years old, and winery is barely twenty years old! Notwithstanding, its wines acquired several prestigious awards in Lebanon and abroad.
Nice to see here also a small area of Cedars, although they differ from the most famous area as they grew up in height, while a "normal" Cedar have a wider trunk.
The good perspective to enjoy a delicious late-lunch in the Kefraya Dionysus restaurant was confirmed by the presence of our "friends" of UN (perhaps from Norway). And in fact the tasty mezzes (as usually: hommous, batinjane, mjaddara, ftayer, kebbeh, manakish, tabouleh and fattouche) was greatly accompanied to red BRETECHES DU CHATEAU KEFRAYA 2004, with variety of 80% Cinsaut, 6% Cabernet-Sauvignon, 7% Grenache and 7% Carignan, vinificated in Barrique vats, which expresses itself through its cherry-red robe with a purplish shade, typical of its youth and character. The perfume of wild flowers, the scent of black cherry compote and ripe cassis, as well as the spicy kirsch aromas, favor the fragrances emanating from a whole botanical garden (am i ready as conductor of Gusto on Canale5 TV? :)))
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