Keren Eritrea - May 27 2008

 

There is a shortage of fuel in Eritrea, and therefore a risk of long queues at the bus station worsened by the one way flow of many pilgrims to the yearly festival of Mariam Dearit.

When I walk to the bus station just after 5:00, the streets of Asmara are dark and deserted. I greet the military guarding the park around the residence of President Isaias Afwerki. I guess most of them know me by now, since I passed the park many times.

I wonder if it was smart to leave so early. Last year I had to wait two hours for the first bus to enter the bus station. But I am very lucky. When I pass the Massawa bus station, the bus to Agordat is ready to leave. There is two seats left, and one is mine.

Of course I will have to pay the full fare from Asmara to Agordat, which is 44 Nakfa instead of 23 Nakfa, but it is a small surcharge for a tourist, and preventing a lot of waiting time.

The bus leaves the bus terminal at 6:00 and after a three hours ride and four or five checks for spies, deserters and more, we arrive in Keren at 9:00. At the Keren bus station I have a breakfast of peanuts, lemon juice and zeitun juice.

Tea with grissini in bar Stuttgart with Elen and her daughters and again with Kidane and his family. They are the neighbors of Afworki and Hansu and I am always welcome to wait and even take a shower if I want.

I brought the copies of last years wedding and when I visit the family of Sina to bring them their pictures, I am welcomed with soft drinks, coffee and a lunch. As a small gift I hand them a large package of paracetamol.

At 13:00 I return to the house of Afworki and Hansu, who will come to their house to have lunch. Hansu is willing to cook whatever I want, but I tell her I will be happy with just a salad of tomatoes, onions and some vegetables.

In the afternoon I deliver the last pictures and at 16:00 I have an appointment with Elen's daughters to walk a bit through the center of Keren, visit some music shops, and have a drink on the pavement of the Red Sea Hotel.

At 19:00, just before dark, I return to the house of Hansu and Afworki, who are waiting for me, and prepared a diner and a wonderful bed in a room of my own.

The climate is perfect for a fantastic nights rest after a few araki's.

 

Yohanna - Keren Eritrea.

Sina and Alganesh - Keren Eritrea.

Lettemariam - Keren Eritrea.

Bethlehem - Keren Eritrea.

Mebrahtu and Hans - Keren Eritrea.

Street scenery - Keren Eritrea.

Decorated Dighe Hotel - Keren Lalay Eritrea.

Decorated Yohannes Hotel - Keren Eritrea.

Hidat - Keren Eritrea.

Coffee bar - Keren Eritrea.