11-8 (Thursday)

We were ready and waiting downstirs at 6 a.m. when Fayeez and the van driver showed up to drive us to Belbak in Lebanon. Another border crossing! We didn't have to pay since we were going to be there less than 24 hours. Right across the border in Lebanon was the most wonderful bakery where we stopped for breakfast - we had a cheese pizza! It was actually very good - thin crust.

Belbek was impressives as we drove up - it is an ancient Roman ruin. Fayeez said we could hire a guide for $25. We thought he was crazy. We said we were going to walk around with a guide which we did for about an hour and a half.

We drove back to the border at a different location and crossed back into Syria. We drove to Palmyra which took about 4 hours. We arrived at 3:00 and went directly to the Roman ruins. Here Fayeez did the tour. We drove to a castle way up on a mountain for the sunset.

After checking into the Oriental Hotel we went out for our first food since breakfast with Fayeez and the driver.