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From Jeita Grotto we went to Byblos or Jubayl in Arabic. It is a Mediterranean city in the Mount Lebanon Governorate, about 42 kilometers north of Beirut. Byblos is believed to have been founded around 5000 BC, and according to fragments attributed to the semi-legendary pre-Trojan war Phoenician historian Sanchuniathon, it was built by Cronus as the first city in Phoenicia. Today it is believed by many to be one the oldest continuously-inhabited cities in the world.
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It is attractive to archaeologists because of the successive layers of debris resulting from centuries of human habitation. The site first appears to have been settled during the Neolithic period, approximately 5000 BC. Neothlithic remains of some buildings can be observed at the site. During the 3rd millennium BC, the first signs of a town can be observed, with the remains of well-built houses of uniform size. This was the period when the Phoenician civilization began to develop.
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Today, Byblos is a modern city. It remains one of Lebanon's biggest tourist attractions, mainly because of its rich history and scenic mountains overlooking the Mediterranean. Most of the people of Byblos are Maronite Catholics.
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It is a prosperous place with glass-fronted office buildings and crowded streets. But within the old town, medieval Arab and Crusader remains are continuous reminders of the past. Nearby are the extensive excavations that make Byblos one of the most important archaeological sites in the area.
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We performed our obligation prayers at a small mosque called Masjid Ibrahim Adham within the tourist area of the Byblos port. Next to the mosque was a souvenir shop owned by very friendly old men (could not recall his name). After the congregation prayer, we had the chance meeting group of Lebanese from Tyre of the southern Lebanon. And, as for remembrance, they invited us to take picture with them, who were mainly teachers in profession.
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The Lebanese is one of the beautiful species created by Allah swt not only by their physical appearance, but also their ascent, hospitality and attitudes. Albeit the destruction resulted from the commotion with their neighbor, they managed to recover and bounced back expeditiously in many aspects – infrastructure, economy and morale. Last year, where many countries around the globe hit by the recession, they have recorded a positive increase of tourist visiting them.
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