For tourists who are searching for a most interesting historical location to visit, Baalbeck is the place. However grand I tell you the temple is, you have to see it to believe it. Because few tourists have discovered the place, clean and large hotel rooms are cheap: $20 a day. The food costs literally pennies and is grilled right in front of you. Lebanese is the heathiest food in the world and is inexpensive: hommos, taboule, baba ganouj, tikke, shish-kebab, and the sweets; baklava, zlabia, knafe bil jibin. These are delights that you must savor to understand why the Lebanese are so healthy and live long. And would you believe it: Placido Domingo was singing there in August during the annual Baalbeck Festival. Unfortunately, I missed that. Baalbeck is cold in the evenings so take a sweater or jacket for the evening. It is not humid like Beirut and Jounieh which are on the coast. The people are honest and courteous. Baalbeck is one hour from Beirut. Leave early at 6 a.m. Tourists can take a van ( bus ) to go from Beirut to Baalbeck. The one way trip costs $7.00.