Asmara Eritrea - August 9th 2006

 

It is my last day of my sixteen days stay in Eritrea. I reconfirm the Eritrean Airlines flight. Just to be sure. They have a few planes only, and one is under maintenance. Globe Jets from Lebanon will operate tonight's flight. The Israelis destroyed the airport of Beirut in their attempts to provoke a new holocaust. The planes of this Lebanese airline company fill the gaps in other airlines timetables.

Apart from visiting friends and family all over Asmara, collecting letters and to say goodbye, I spend the day climbing the stairs of some buildings in Harnet Avenue, to make some nice pictures that give a bird's eyes view of the center of the Asmara, and its beautiful and precious architectural environment. One of these buildings is the bell tower of the Catholic Cathedral (just enter at the schools entrance, the office is behind the first door on your right). The others are the Ambassador Hotel and the Palazzo Falletta.

Back home, I carefully prepare the various forms that will be needed for the exit procedures on Asmara's airport (the declaration of foreign currency holdings, passengers electronics declaration form, 20 dollars airport tax, and exit form), so there will be no delay at the counters in the airport. And for the last time I join the Asmarino's in their evening passeggiata, a walk down palm-lined Harnet Avenue, meeting friends and shaking hands.

I can look back on a very nice time in Eritrea. The Festival Eritrea resulted in hundreds of pictures. It is with enormous pride and pleasure that I want to share these pictures with Eritreans in the Diaspora and others who are interested in the country. The Festival Eritrea contributed to my knowledge of Eritrea, its people, music, traditions and food, and was a nice chance to interact with all Eritrea's nationalities.

I therefore hope that my travel story will result in a "wow, this is nice, I want to be there next year" reaction of those who read these words and watched the pictures. Please do not hesitate to plan your trip to Eritrea, so it will include the ten days of the festival. By visiting the Festival Eritrea, one will get a glimpse of Eritrea in a brief time period. The Festival Eritrea 2007 will be organized in approximately the same time span. Every year the festival is organized in the last week of July and first week of August.

Goodbye Asmara. We will meet again in May 2007 to celebrate Eritrea's 16th Independence Day.

  

View over Asmara's villa quarter from the Cathedral bell tower.

View over Asmara from the Cathedral bell tower.

View over Asmara from the Cathedral bell tower.

View over Harnet Avenue from the Cathedral bell tower - Asmara Eritrea.

Catholic theological school - Catholic Cathedral Asmara Eritrea.

Monastery garden - Catholic Cathedral Asmara Eritrea.

View over Harnet Avenue from the Ambasador Hotel - Asmara Eritrea.

Cathedral snack bar - Harnet Avenue Asmara Eritrea.

Minneci apartments, shops and post office - Asmara Eritrea.

Villa quarter and tower of the Hamasien Hotel - Asmara Eritrea.