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What an amazing and overwhelming experience...to visit the home villages of our ancestors, the villages where our grandparents were born...
Dahr Safra (the village of the Michael's) and
Harishe (the village of the Ackel's.) They are really just one village,
Dahr Safra at the top of the mountain,
Harishe at the bottom, about 100 yards from the Mediterranean!
(Left to Right): Fadya Booz (a relative to the Michael's), Craig, the priest of the village, Hamman, our "guide," and Rianda, a relative of the Joe Thomas family. We are outside of the old St. George's Church in
Dahr Safra, where our ancestors were baptized and married! The entire area is Catholic (Maronite).
Inside the old St. George's Church.
A typical home in
Dahr Safra.
On the road to
Dahr Safra, looking down into
Harishe.
Harishe. On the left you can see a Maronite Catholic Church, built by Joe Dow of Houston, a native of
Harishe. Unfortunately I ran out of film before we actually went down into
Harishe, but I captured images on my cell phone. As soon as I get them transferred, I will post them! Right next to the church is the home of the one Ackel relative I met...her husband is a cousin to Joe Dow. They took me to what they called the "Ackel Family Home" further down from their home, and told me that this abandoned stone cottage was more than likely where our grandfather, John Habib Ackel, had been born! I can't wait to post those photos! Yes, the house is right on the Mediterranean, and the vegetation is lush...
From the highest point in
Dahr Safra.
The new St. George's Church in
Dahr Safra. It was to be dedicated the following weekend! As you can see below, they had not yet installed the pews!
MORE TO COME!
This is the nameplate on the front door of the cottage they told me was the original Ackel home...not sure what the top word means ("house of...?") but the second word is definitely "Ackel" in Arabic. Or "Ackal." When they spell the name there using our alphabet it is "Akil" or "Akl."
At the front door...the home is now abandoned.
The lock...
Side yard...
Front yard...
Back yard...
Mr. and Mrs. George Dow...she was an Ackel...he is the brother of Joe Dow, of Houston, Texas...we are in the church that Joe Dow built in Harishe.
Our cousin and her son.
Every table, whether in a restaurant or a private home, is loaded with food...ala Aunt Cubie!
At a restuarant in Dahr Safra, Syria...we cleaned it out, Syrian style!
What an amazing and overwhelming experience...to visit the home villages of our ancestors, the villages where our grandparents were born...Dahr Safra (the village of the Michael's) and Harishe (the village of the Ackel's.) They are really just one village, Dahr Safra at the top of the mountain, Harishe at the bottom, about 100 yards from the Mediterranean!
(Left to Right): Fadya Booz (a relative to the Michael's), Craig, the priest of the village, Hamman, our "guide," and Rianda, a relative of the Joe Thomas family. We are outside of the old St. George's Church in Dahr Safra, where our ancestors were baptized and married! The entire area is Catholic (Maronite).
Inside the old St. George's Church.
On the road to Dahr Safra, looking down into Harishe.
Harishe. On the left you can see a Maronite Catholic Church, built by Joe Dow of Houston, a native of Harishe. Unfortunately I ran out of film before we actually went down into Harishe, but I captured images on my cell phone. As soon as I get them transferred, I will post them! Right next to the church is the home of the one Ackel relative I met...her husband is a cousin to Joe Dow. They took me to what they called the "Ackel Family Home" further down from their home, and told me that this abandoned stone cottage was more than likely where our grandfather, John Habib Ackel, had been born! I can't wait to post those photos! Yes, the house is right on the Mediterranean, and the vegetation is lush...
MORE TO COME!
The marketplace in Byblos.
There's no doubt Jesus walked the land of Tyre and Sidon! Here I am at an ancient Christian cemetery.
Fresh fish for lunch, straight from the Mediterranean...
Craig and Marie at a castle at Sidon, built by Alexander the Great, and later used as a fort for the Crusaders!
