Asmara - November 12 2009

 

Second day in Asmara. I visited family of my wife. I walked for hours to taste the friendliness, the smiles of the Asmarino's, the fruit juices of the Cathedral Snack Bar, and the cappuccino's of the Damera Bar.

The girls of the various cafes are happy with their pictures. We make more pictures.

In the Egyptair office at Bahti Meskerem Square I confirm my return flight. Check-in time 1:30 Sunday December 6.

In the same shopping mall I change part of my euros into Nakfa at Himbol exchange office.

The rest of the day I spend on the streets of Asmara to meet friends, family and acquaintances. I drink cappuccino with Tedros of Travel House and tea with Dawit Mesfun, the broker. Strolling Harnet Avenue is the best way to meet people.

I meet Mehari again. He is a member of the Pentecostal Church in Eritrea. I ask how he is doing, and about his church. "Everything is okay" he says. Carefully I ask about the ban on his faith, having heart that a lot of Pentecostals have been arrested. "You will not be arrested if you are not too fanatic" he answers. He even offers me to visit their service next Sunday.

I am happy to hear that the stories about the persecution of Pentecostals are exaggerated. I guess they are another unjustified anti-Eritrea accusation, in the US campaign to discredit Eritrea as a nation. The message of Mehari is clear: It is okay to be Pentecostal, but don't cry it out to loud.

A Muslim girl is selling vegetarian snacks on the sidewalk of Harnet Avenue. I do my best to pass her a few times, as I love the snacks. She has to laugh when I pass her a third time, buying a third pair of snacks. She is happy that I like them. But she is not happy when I want to picture her. So I will just have the snacks only.

At 18:00 a whistle sounds, and everyone stops. Of course I do the same. After one minute a second whistle sounds, and everyone proceeds their walk. I ask one of the men about this tradition. He tells me that every day at this time the authorities strike the flag at the municipality. "To respect the flag and our Martyrs, we stand still for one minute" he explains.

 

View on the Cinema Asmara - Asmara Eritrea.

Himbol exchange - Bahti Meskerem Square Asmara Eritrea.

Mede Ertra Bus terminal - Asmara Eritrea.

Segheneyti Street Asmara Eritrea.

Cathedral Snack bar - Harnet Avenue Asmara Eritrea.

Cathedral Snack bar - Harnet Avenue Asmara Eritrea.

Yerusalem, Mebrak, Haddas, Mitslal and Semhar
Cathedral Snack bar Asmara Eritrea.

Covered Markets - Asmara Eritrea.

Shops and apartments - Nakfa Avenue Asmara Eritrea.

Damera Bar & Pastry - Harnet Avenue Asmara Eritrea.

Salem and Fana - Damera Bar & Pastry Asmara Eritrea.