Barentu Eritrea - October 15th 2003

 

Early in the morning I go to the Tessenei bus station, anxious to visit Barentu. I buy my ticket, but it will take some time before all the seats of the bus are occupied. I share the other passengers, who drink some tea boiled on a charcoal fire in the open air. The bus leaves at 10:00. It is a very old bus and takes four hours to reach Barentu with one stopover in Haykota.

I walk the last kilometer to the Merhaba hotel, which is said to be the best hotel in Barentu, halfway between the bus station and the old village. After checking in, I walk to the village and snake through the little alleys, visiting bars every hour to drink some coke, or fruit juice if available. friendly people ask where I come from and about my family and what I think of Barentu.

I walk to the dry river bed and follow the river for a kilometer or so. It is the back yard of the Kunama village. Some woman come out to check me. To my surprise they want me to picture them. I wonder if it is wise to go up into the village itself. I should have gone up, but I was to scared at that time to meet the unknown. Next time I visit Barentu I will bring some small gifts from Holland.

I return to the main street. Have to find some souvenirs for Elen and her daughters. Without any gifts I return to the hotel before it is getting to dark. Tomorrow I will try again.

 

Local taxi transport - Barentu Eritrea.

Hotel Merhaba - Barentu Eritrea.

Barentu Eritrea - main street from the bus station to the village.

Bar and restaurant - Barentu Eritrea.

Traditional dwellings - Barentu Eritrea.

Walking trough the dry river bed - Barentu Eritrea.

"What's that tourist doing in our back yard?" - Barentu Eritrea.

Capricious landscape on the river bank - Barentu Eritrea.

Traditional dwellings - Barentu Eritrea.

Traditional dwellings - Barentu Eritrea.