Cairo Street was a particularly popular attraction in the fair.[1][6] Aftimus went on to work on the Egyptian pavilion at the Antwerp exposition and the following year he went to Berlin on an extensive research trip on construction engineering before returning to Beirut in late 1896. In 1898 Youssef was recruited by the Municipality of Beirut as municipal engineer and he directed the construction of the Grand Serail Clock tower. During his work in Beirut he met Manouk Avedisian, better known as Bechara efendi al-Muhandes his future father in law, he married Rose Avedisian on May 1, 1899.[3]