We picked up the area manager and the local sales rep and drove to Byblos. We headed north on what seemed to me to be their version of Pacific Coast Highway. The road hugged the rugged coast and overlooked beaches and resort areas. The sun was out and the water was sparkling. It felt a lot like California, especially the traffic. The 40 miles took about 2 hours. We arrived in Byblos a little early, and I was offered a tour.
Byblos is a 3000-year-old Phoenician city that, according to my tour guides, was the place of the first alphabet. There were ruins from that era, Roman, and Byzantine. We walked around the cobblestone streets lined with fossil and religious icon sellers. We settled in to a restaurant on the ancient harbor and ate a meal of fresh fish, hummus, and a variety of other incredibly delicious treats. I could really get used to this.
After a 2-hour lunch, we arrived at the private hospital in Byblos. It was small with a dirt parking lot that the local kids used as a soccer field and had a beautiful view of the sea. Unlike the other private hospitals I saw on this trip, there was neither marble on the walls or a foreign staff. Few women wore headscarves, and the men were dressed casually. As with everywhere I visited, everyone was entirely warm and gracious. The staff had even prepared a back table with local sweets made of nuts and honey.
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