After our stressful border crossings, we opted to sleep in.
Note- The ATM’s here dispense either Lebanese pounds or US dollars.
We decided to spend the night in Zahle, so we got a beautiful hotel perched on the side of a cliff (Monte Alberto) before heading off to Baalbek.
We were now in Hezzbollah country. We went from military checkpoints with the Lebanese army (M-16's) to the Syrian army (AK-47's) to the Hezzbollah (AK-47's and Ayatollah Khomeni posters) all wondering what two Americans were doing driving through Lebanon. (I never thought I'd know or care about distinguishing between an AK and an M-16, but I'm an expert now.) In addition to the Ayatollah posters, the Syrians had al-Hassad posters. The landscape was dotted with huge Palestian (Bedouin) villages with their huge flocks of goats and sheep. 
Finally getting into Baalbek, we stopped for lunch at the Palmyra Hotel, a 120-year-old Victorian Inn with a view of the site. Baalbek – truly magnificent Roman ruins—one of the most important Roman sites in the Middle East. It is known as one of the wonders of the world. The Temple was built on an incredible scale. It was originally a cult of nature worship and sacrifice. After Alexander the Great, it became known as Heliopolis. After that, everyone added on to the site- the Romans made it huge, followed by additions from the Byzantines and the Moslems.
Since we were in Lebanese wine country, we picked up a few bottles of wine and enjoyed our view from the balcony of our room before dinner.
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