Fifth Journey Day 112: The Postcard Seller’s Gesture

Date: August 28, 2025
Location: Baalbek, Lebanon

In Baalbek, in the Bekaa Valley of Lebanon, the day opened with dry heat and bright skies over Roman columns. Among temples and weathered limestone, the rhythms of the town met the ruins’ long memory—dust, light, and a slow breeze threading through time.

Heat, Stone, and First Impressions

The heat was intense from the moment I stepped into the ruins. The columns rose impossibly tall, pale stone against an almost colorless sky, and I felt small in their presence. I walked slowly, touching the surfaces of the things I passed. Some surfaces were smooth, while others were pitted with centuries of weather. My fingertips carried away the memory of dust.

Children Between the Columns

A group of children ran between the stones, their voices echoing in the empty space. Their laughter made the place less serious, reminding me that these monuments, even though they are very old, still belong to the people who are alive today. A man selling postcards waved from under a small umbrella. He moved slowly, as if time didn't matter here.

Light on a Carved Fragment

I sat for a while on a fallen block, watching how light moved across one carved fragment. At first, the shadow was clear, but then it became blurry and almost disappeared under the bright sunlight. The stone seemed to change expression, as though it had different faces at different times of day.

Water, Dust, and a Faint Breeze

I drank water slowly, aware of how quickly the heat can make the body lose its water. The air was calm, with only a light breeze every now and then. Each time it passed, the dust lifted slightly, and the columns' outlines shimmered.

The Weight of Silence

What I will remember most is not the grandeur of the ruins but the silence within them. It wasn't empty; it was filled with a weight that made me stop and notice the spaces between sounds and steps.

Leaving the Temple City

By late afternoon, my body was tired from the sun, but my mind was clear. Today, there was no rush or noise. There was just the simple act of being present among stone and sky. I left the ruins slowly. It was still hot, and I could feel the silence following me out into the town.

Travel Notes

• Weather: Dry, bright skies; 35°C at midday. A faint, mineral-scented breeze drifted between the ruins, lifting fine dust and making the columns shimmer.
• Scents: Sun-warmed stone, mineral dust, and the faint chalky smell of old limestone.
• Sounds: Children’s laughter echoing across courtyards, the soft shuffle of visitors, and long pauses of heat-slowed silence.
• Reflection: The day taught patience—how light edits stone, how quiet can feel full, and how small gestures (a wave from a postcard seller) anchor a place in the present.

Continue the Journey

You may also enjoy wandering through another moment from Lebanon in Mediterranean Mingle, or follow a reflective thread in Labyrinth of Longing.