In addition, there was a meeting with the Faddoul cousins in Tripoli. The Faddouls are related to our great grandmother Mariam Faddoul, wife of Hanna (Juan) Dib. They are also cousins of aunt Esperanza, wife of Salomon son of Julian (Khalil) Dip of San Luis Potosi.

With all the preparations made, but because of the short length of time, other Dib cousins resident in Lebanon could not be reached, and invited to attend. Hoping that next year they will. These are:

1- Aunt Yvonne Dib Mouawad, daughter of Khoury Youhanna Dib, although we met her daughter Claudette.
2- Aunt Amira Dib Saad, daughter of Khoury Youhanna Dib, and her extended Saad family.
3- Cousins Marie, Elene, Jeanne, and Elias Toufic Nasser, all chilcren of aunt Emelie Dib Nasser, daughter of Elias Hanna Dib.
4- Cousin Haifa Doumit Tamer, daughter of Asma, daughter of Assaad Hanna Dib, and her son Sarkis Azar who was very busy with extensive school administrative duties that week.

I had difficulties contacting the descendents of great-uncle Jose Hanna Dib in San Luis Potosi, therefore they had no representation this year. I hope we can get them to attned next year.

It was a small reunion this year because:
1- 10 Cousins and children from Detroit could not make it since their father was ill.
2- Cousins in Montreal and Guadalajara canceled at the last moment.
They all promised to make it to next year's reunion.

Day 1 - Monday June 25
Click on any picture to view it enlarged

Giusy, Julia, and I arrived at the Port Emilio Hotel early, we checked in, but had no idea when our MExican cousins were arriving at the Beirut Airpot (coming from an earlier vacation in Paris). In emails exchanged before the reunion, I though they would be in Beirut around 3:00 PM. I called the Airport, only to find out that there were two flights arriving from Paris one at 1:00 and one at 4:00. I figured maube they will be on the 4:00 flight, and I planned to with the touring bus provided br the Hotel to meet them at the airport. These Mexican cousins had never been in Lebanon ever before in their life. Their father Salomon Julian Dip left Lebanon when he was 2 or 3 years old, and never went back to visit. In addition, they spoke onloy Spanish, and some English, and had no idea where Port Emilio was in Lebanon.

At 2:00 PM, I approached the check-in desk at the Port Emilio to inquire about the arrangements and if they heard anything about the flight. They (like most Lebanese) had no idea. But, on my second try, I was informed that the cousins had arrived Beirut, did not see us there (noy, I felt bad !), asked the Ministry of Tourism office at the Airport to call Port Emilio, and send the bus to pick them up.

Half an hour later, we greeted them at the main lobby of the hotel. It was emotional. I had not seen them in three years. It was nice to be together again. They were in a euphoric state for being in the lands of their ancestors for the first time ever, and finally meeting a cousin they know, who also knows Lebanon, me ;-)

We did not have much free time to do any shopping or touring, instead we had dinner (quick Shawarma and chicken sandwiches, under a moon lit sky, by the pool side cafe at the Port Emilio.

Day 2 - Tuesday June 26
Click on any picture to view it enlarged

The touring bus was awaiting us by around 10:00 AM, with a very nicely dressed driver who spoke no language other than Arabic, but who cared, as long as he could drive safely (more on that later). The bus was nice and air-conditionned, something definitely needed for the hot days of summer in the costal areas of Lebanon

We proceeded to Tripoli, to visit the hometown and house of our great grandfather Hanna Dib (Juan Dip).

We started our day in Tripoli with a very "sweet" breakfast (deseiuno tipico) , at the Patisserie Hallab, where Khalil learned how to drink from the traditional Lebanese Carafe (Ibrik), without spilling water all over his clothes.

We then proceeded to visit the old house of our great grandfather Hanna Dib (Juan Dip) in the Haret es-Saydeh quarter of Tripoli. This was an emotional visit, managed by Milad Hanna Dib whose family branch is the current owner of the house.

This was actually two houses inhabited, later, by grand-uncles Elias Hanna Dib, and Assaad Hanna Dib (now abandoned). It was very sad to learn that both houses are now slated for demolition as part of the after-war rebuilding of the area. They were declared unfit for habitation, although some Moslem Alawite family lives in the lower part of the house (for protection). Michel Youssef Hanna Dib, the current resident (upper floor) has recently emigrated to Australia with his family, but still uses this house on his frequent visits back to Lebanon where they have a well known and old established fine wood furnitutre manufacturing business.

Milad Hanna Dib took us through memory lane, explaining us the history of the house and which great-uncle lived where in that house. It was learned that the house was built on the highest elevation in Tripoli at the time, a sign of status.

Elias Dip-Rame sat silently on the balcony overlooking Tripoli. He commented that "If his father, who left Lebanon as an infant, and never had the opportunity to go back and visit, that if he never left for Mexico, Elias and family could be living in that house now". It was an emotional statement.

After visiting the house, we proceeded to visit the old church of the "Virgin of the Quarter" or Saydet el-Hara in Arabic. There we met the Faddoul cousins awaiting us headed by the 92 year old MiKhael Youssef Faddoul. The church is over 700 years old, and our great-uncle Khoury Youhanna Dib was its priest for over 50 years (starting in 1909). The family of great-uncle Elias Hanna Dib was also in charge of administering the properties of the church for a long time, building a school and many stores on its property.

After the church, we proceeded to the old Tripoli bazaar, dating back to the Turkish era. Elias and Salim bought a lot of traditional Arabic costumes. We then proceeded to the GOLD market, and we all became thousand dollar poorer afterward. The wives were very happy. The gold merchants happier, although they had a primitive way of accepting payments by credit card.

Then we were invited to the house of the Faddouls in the Koubbeh quarter of Tripoli, an area devestated by the civil war, but they still call it home. In that house we had a quick but great home-cooked meal prepared by the Faddoul cousins. They were:

1- Mikhael Ibrahim Faddoul, 92 years old, retired Master Builder, and first maternal cousin with aunt Esperanza Rame(h) whose family migrated to Puebla, Mexico long time ago.
2- Jenevieve Kheir, Mikhael's wife
3- Antoun Faddoul, son of Mikhael.
4- Marie Abi-Rached, Antoun's wife.
5- Manal Faddoul, Antoun's daughter (she joined us on a couple of touring trips in the following days).
6- Sayed Faddoul, son of Mikhael.
7- Salma Faddoul Khayyat, daughter of Mikhael.
8- Mariette Faddoul Sakr, daughter of Mikhael.
9- Hana Faddoul, single and eligible, daughter of Mikhael.

Meeting the Faddouls and having dinner with them was a great occasion, but it took longer than we expected (or shorther ?). We proceeded back to the hotel, and got in very late that evening.

Day 3 - Wednesday June 27
Click on any picture to view it enlarged

Proceeded to Tripoli, heading for its mountain areas. But, first, we were joined by our cousin Milad Hanna Dib, and his son Ryanne, who were staying at their house in Tripoli. We were also joined by Manal Antoon Faddoul, and proceeded east to go up the mountains of North Lebanon.

The first stop was at my mother Laurice Jabbour Dib's house in Mejdlaya. There we had a quick traditional Lebanese breakfast consisting of "Man'oush" (Lebanese oregano Taco). Laurice joined us on the trip up the mountain.

I had planned to visit cousin Haifa Doumit Tamer on the way, in the village of Ardeh, 5 Km east of Tripoli, but it was getting late in the day and very hot. We needed to go up the mountain and cool off.

Our next stop was the sanctuary of Saint Rafka in the area of Aitou (700 meters altitude). There were douzen of visiting buses to that sacred place., the monastary where Saint Rafka spent her life and made her miracles. We had some meditations and prayers in the old stone built church. We also enjoyed the magnificant views of these mountains.

Our next stop was the church of "Our Lady of the Fortress" on top of a hill overlooking Ehden (2,000 meters altitude). The church offered a breath taking view, reminding me of the volcano of the island of Maui, in Hawai. That church was build adjacent to the old historic church that protected the Christians of Ehden-Zgharta through the ages. The church was built at the sole expense of Sheikh Fayez Dawood Mouawad, the late husband of our aunt Yvonne Khoury Youhanna Dib, who was a famous jeweler in Saudi Arabia, and great benefactor in Lebanon. He is buried in front of that church in a pyramid-shaped tomb. We visited the book store next to the church, and were invited to savour the famous Zgharta tabboule by the store keeper's wife. Cousin Elias, in turn, offered them, and us, some delicious water melons he had purchased earlier in Mejdlaya from a traveling sales van (in the old days, it would have been a traveling salesman with a donkey !.

We then proceeded to the famous and biblical "Cedar of Lebanon Forest".......................

Visits to the mountains of North Lebanon (Saint Rafka sanctuary, Church of our Lady of the fortress in Ehden, Cedar Forest, Gibran Museum.

Dinner at the Mississipi in Becharri (arriba !)

Sweet late night at the Midan of Ehden, and visit to the monument of Youssef Bey Karam, the Lebanese hero of the 1800's)

Day 4 - Thursday June 28
Click on any picture to view it enlarged

Visits to Byblos, San Charbel Sanctuary, the Grotto of Jeita

Dinner at Harissa.

Night at Casino du Liban, foiled, instead Drinks ar a variety show on the bank of the historic "Dog River". Arkileh, and Arabic comedians.

Day 5 - Friday June 29
Click on any picture to view it enlarged

Visit to Beirut, and Shopping in Bourj Hammoud. Crucita buys Henna to her mother-in-law aunt Esperanza. Khalil finally gets his electronic watch with Arabic dial numbers.

Visit to the magnificant villa of cousin Sheikha Claudette Mouawad, and her husband social extra-ordinaire Victor Abou-Selwan, and their handsome son Angelo Abou-Selwan. After touring the 12 or so salons in the villa, we proceeded to have some drinks by the pool side.

Dinner and family reunion at our cousin Roger's house. Milad brought along his son Rayanne, and his nephews Youssef son of Elias son of Youssef son of Elias Hanna-Dib, our grand uncle, and Jean son of Angele daughter of Youssef Elias Hanna-Dib. Jean's father's family name is Hanna, and mother's family name is Dib, so in Spanish he would be called Jean Hanna-Dib :-)

After some tasty home cooked Lebanese food and sweets, the Dib wives sang all types of Spanish romantic songs, only to be (almost) outdone, by some singing from Elias Dip, and Roger Dib. Prefessional high school singer / performer Julia was too shy to sing for any length of time.

While Roger, Elias and Salim enjoyed some Cuban cigars, all Dib cousins signed Roger's guest book, and recorded this memorable evening.

Day 6 - Saturday June 30
Click on any picture to view it enlarged

Visit to Dlebta, Lunch in Dlebta

Belly Dancer and dinner Awtar

Day 7 - Sunday Junly 1
Click on any picture to view it enlarged

Departure ;-(

In the summer of 2000, 5 Dip cousins from Zacatecas, Mexico, and 3 cousins from Richmond, Virginia, USA, all desendents of great-uncle Salomon (Salim) Dip, went on their first trip to Lebanon (and Syria). In Lebanon, they were greeted by my brother Pierre Maurice K.H. Dib. They did not get to meet other cousins because we had not planned it right.

Pictures from the Dip visit of the Summer 2000
Click on any picture to view it enlarged

The attendees in the Summer of 2000, were: