Asmara Eritrea June 03 2011

 

Usually the last day of my stay in Eritrea is for the family visits. but they all visited our house yesterday evening to say goodbye, so I am free to enjoy my last day in Eritrea strolling the streets of Asmara.

I follow Mebrat's advise to show a little extra generosity, and to spend my last Nakfa's not only on souvenirs and my stomach, but also to those in need.

I check my luggage and the completeness of the exit forms. Apart from the ticket and the passport, your financial administration should balance, which means that the total amount of foreign currency in your wallet should match the currency declaration form.

At 4:00 PM I set two alarm clocks to wake me up at 12:00 for the 1:00 AM check-in, and have some sleep. Luwam keeps her promises and surprises me with a wake-up call at 0:00 to be absolutely sure I do not miss my flight.

At midnight I have some problems to find a taxi. If you don't need them, there is plenty, and if you need them, there is none. A private car helps me out to solve this small logistic problem.

At the airport I pass the checkpoints at the gate, at the door, at the x-ray machine, the ticket and luggage counter, the currency declaration forms counter, the airport tax counter, the customs counter, the double check officer, and the foreign currency exchange form check. Strict but polite the officer checks the foreign currency with the currency declaration form. "Show me the money". He counts the remaining euros. They are approved with a smile. 

After a second x-ray machine check, I am allowed to go upstairs to the waiting room zone surrounded by souvenir and tax free shops, and the "Take Off" cafe, where we will have to wait several hours before we can make the last 200 meters walk to the Egyptair Boeing 737-800.

I buy some drinks for the Cairo Airport as well, as I prefer the 1$ Eritrean "Mai Sahar" above the $4 Coke at Cairo International Airport. With a smile the waitress approves my order in Tigrinya.

There is some panic among a group of passengers. It is those flying with Yemenia. Due to the tense political situation in Yemen, their flight to Sanaa is cancelled.

Just after 3:00 we walk the last meters to the plane. Goodbye Eritrea, hope to be back in 2012 for either Independence Day or the Festival in July / August.

 

 

Shops and apartments former Piazza Roma -176-1 Street Asmara Eritrea.

Covered markets - Adi Keyh Street / Barka Street Asmara Eritrea.

Mede Ertra bus station - Asmara Eritrea.

Shops and apartments - Nakfa Avenue Asmara Eritrea.

Shops and apartments - Nakfa Avenue Asmara Eritrea.

Abrehet's juice bar in Bar Amanuel - Asmara Eritrea.

Catholic Cathedral - Harnet Avenue Asmara Eritrea.

Shops and apartments - Harnet Avenue Asmara Eritrea.

Former Bank of Eritrea - Harnet Avenue Asmara Eritrea.

Eritel Internet Service Provider and Cyber Cafe - Beleza Street Asmara Eritrea.

Billboard - City Park Asmara Eritrea.