Keren Eritrea - May 28 2008

 

After a wonderful nights rest, I wake up at 7:00. Hansu and Afworki did not want to wake me up, although they are in a hurry to go to their work. I appreciate their hospitality, but if I don't show some self discipline, they will sacrifice their rest to make me happy.

And my joy is to be on the streets of Keren, exploring the town, meeting new people and old friends. I visit Shishahi and her family. She gave me a beautiful traditional coffee pot as a good bey gift last year.

At the bus station I enjoy some fresh fruit juices, and watch the activity around the buses.

At 12:00 I visit Hansu at her work in the Ministry of Education. Her desk is surrounded by 20.000 files of the teachers of the Zoba Anseba. We walk home for lunch. On my request Hansu makes me a small tomato salad. I taste some of her injera with shiro. We drink traditional coffee.

Although it is extremely hot, I walk the three kilometers to visit the area of Mariam Dearit around 15:00. Afworki told me there will be a mass. Monk beat the drums and sing religious songs, leaning on their maces.

Three girlfriends from Dekemhare invite me to join their picnic and offer me tea, coffee and bread. We talk and make jokes.

At 17:00 I walk back to the center of Keren to find myself my daily dose of mineral water. I pass the Italian war cemetery that is beautifully colored in this time of the year.

Just before dark I return to the house of Afworki and Hansu.  I watch the children playing on the street with a self made football and a wheelbarrow, while Hansu makes diner.

 

Ministry of Education - Keren Eritrea.

Bus station - Keren Eritrea.

Bus station - Keren Eritrea.

Woyni's dukan - Keren Eritrea.

Traditional kitchen - Keren Eritrea.

Mosque - Keren Eritrea.

View on the Commercial Bank of Eritrea - Keren.

Catholic Cathedral - Keren Eritrea.

Boy selling peanuts for a Nakfa - Keren Eritrea.

Street scene in the evening - Keren Eritrea.