Asmara Eritrea - May 22 2009

 

In the daytime I spend the time to update the data of our Eritrean information pages, visiting hotels and restaurants.

Around noon, I meet Kiros and Irga for the second time. They invite me to have lunch in the Asmara Restaurant, opposite to the Post Office. This restaurant serves good food for a very reasonable price. We all chose the pasta.

In the tailor shop I collect the covers for the cushions. Ali made six perfect copies of the original covers, with the traditional Bilen cloth. I buy some fruit at the market and take the bus to Sembel to store the valuable souvenirs.

Back in the center, I spend most of the time watching the maybe 100 sailors of an Indian war vessel, visiting Asmara, all wearing the same perfectly white uniform. I have a word with them, and we make pictures.

In the evening I witness the third Independence Day carnival, a parade of representatives of Eritrea's nine nationalities, Asmara's 13 administrations, sports clubs, religious groups, cultural groups, and musicians, preceded by a marching band.

The colorful parade of musicians and dancing people of all cultures, exhibits Eritrea's history (the war of liberation), its present, and its future. The 2009 Independence Day theme is 'Our Independent Political Choice: Guarantee for Development.'

The Eri-TV crew asks me some questions. From where I came, what I think of the celebrations, and why I am spotted all over town with my rucksack. I explain my position in Eritrea, and tell them about my web site, my personal mission to spend some of my money and time on Eritrea's development.

My call to Eritreans in the Diaspora to do the same, and spend some of their energy to help achieve a happy and prosperous Eritrea is broadcasted several times on May 24 on national television. Dishes of Eritreans all over the world will pick up my words on Eritrea's 18th Independence Day, making me so very happy and proud.

 

Lunch with Kiros and Irga in the Asmara restaurant - Asmara Eritrea.

Community carnival - BDHO Avenue Asmara Eritrea.

Community carnival - BDHO Avenue Asmara Eritrea.

Community carnival - BDHO Avenue Asmara Eritrea.

Community carnival - Beirut Street Asmara Eritrea.

Community carnival - BDHO Avenue Asmara Eritrea.

Community carnival - BDHO Avenue Asmara Eritrea.

Community carnival - BDHO Avenue Asmara Eritrea.

Community carnival - BDHO Avenue Asmara Eritrea.

Community carnival - BDHO Avenue Asmara Eritrea.

Community carnival - Semaetat Avenue Asmara Eritrea.

Community carnival - Beirut Street Asmara Eritrea.

Community carnival - Semaetat Avenue Asmara Eritrea.

Community carnival - Semaetat Avenue Asmara Eritrea.

Illuminated Semaetat Avenue and Bar Zilli - Asmara Eritrea.

Community carnival - Semaetat Avenue Asmara Eritrea.