Asmara Eritrea - November 17 and 18 2007

 

Perfectly on schedule, at 22:30, the Lufthansa Airbus 330 arrives at Asmara International Airport. Passport check at the entrance, currency declaration form at counter #1, passport and entry form check at counter #2, desperate travelers at the luggage belt.

Part of the luggage for the Asmara passengers has been unloaded in Jeddah. A fax message from Jeddah confirms the numbers of the missing luggage. A temporary counter #3 is listing the claims. The luggage will follow on one of next weeks flights.

Fortunately, my missing suitcase is of no importance for my trip. My clothes and personal stuff made it to Asmara, and the essentials plus one pair of spare pants (that are not easy to find in Asmara if you have an abdominous body) are, as usual, in my rucksack.

Remaining luggage is checked for electronics and so at counter #4. Nothing to declare.

Two Eritrean friends traveling on the same flight drop me off at the Corea Housing Complex. Bad luck for the taxi drivers, waiting for a 300 Nakfa ride to any destination in Asmara. I share the quick win with the friend of the two men. Fuel is expensive in Eritrea. He will need it.

First day in Asmara is for family, friends, distribution of last years photo's and a visit to Himbol Exchange to change some of my Euros into Nakfa's. I ask Ariam at the counter if I can take her picture as a souvenir. We have met before, it is okay.

Boys of a local football team are collecting money for their team. I give them some Nakfa's make a picture.

Cappuccino and cake at the Damera Bar. for lunch. I have to lose some fat these three weeks, and planned to walk an average of 20 kilometer every day, complemented by a strict diet.

When looking for a shop to buy a notebook, I meet the policeman from Himbirti, who is visiting his family in Asmara. We drink a few beers and walk to Northern outskirts of Asmara, dominated by ramshackled dwellings, small stone houses, and chaotic alleys that follow the shape of the hills.

In Abbashaul I am invited to join a wedding celebration. I eat some injera and drink some suwa. It's a big risk for your health, because the suwa is brewed with unboiled local tap water, but by now I am used to the local bacteria.

Since the bride and the bridegroom are in another part of the town, the feast misses the interesting part of the ceremony. After half an hour, I am back on the streets of Asmara.

I collect some clothes and my walking shoes at the house of Luwams parents. I left most of my clothes in their house at the end of my previous trips, so I can bring in some extra gifts within the 30 kilos allowed.     

 

Alla Scala Hotel - Warsay Street Asmara Eritrea.

Alhashime Mall - Warsay Street Asmara Eritrea.

Golden Fork Bar and Fastfood restaurant - Warsay Street Asmara Eritrea.

Ariam (Himbol Exchange) - Harnet Avenue Asmara Eritrea.

Small scale trade on the sidewalks of Harnet Avenue - Asmara Eritrea.

Football team - Harnet Avenue Asmara Eritrea.

Selam (Damera Bar) - Harnet Avenue Asmara Eritrea.

Small scale trade on the sidewalks of Harnet Avenue - Asmara Eritrea.

Wedding - Abbashaul Asmara Eritrea.

Luwam watching last years pictures - Asmara Eritrea.