Asmara Eritrea June 04 2016 - Thank you and good bye Asmara / Eritrea

 

At 9 AM I will have a short interview with ERI-TV (Mr. Rafael) in the restaurant of Cinema Roma. Hope I can do it in nice and correct English. I am not the only tourist to be interviewed. The interview is about how I experienced Eritrea's 25th Independence Day, about my visit to Keren and Kohaito and the trip by train. And about the general 'feel' of Eritrea and its people. Therefore the answers to Mr. Rafael's questions are easy. They are a resume of the travel experiences I wrote down in my 2016 travel diary. 

A 20 minutes interview in which I could testify that I was happy to be part of the events and celebrations of Eritrea's Silver Jubilee. Not only as an observer, but also as a participant. The interaction with the many happy local Eritreans (at the wedding in Tselot, in Haz Haz, Medeber and more)  as well as Eritreans from all over the world (on Harnet Avenue, May 23 and in the stadium, May 24) added a special value to my May 2016 trip to Eritrea. It felt like a warm welcome, and I felt safe and pampered by a hospitable, honest, and peace loving Eritrean people, where Muslims and Christians live in harmony, and wealth comes from the heart instead of US dollars.

It is not only President Isaias Afewerki that rules Eritrea, but it is traditional peace and harmony. Nine Nationalities, but 'One Heart' that made it possible to win a 30 years struggle for liberation against a Soviet and US backed Ethiopia. Very different from other nearby countries like Ethiopia and Yemen. Both in Asmara and Keren I found a mix of Muslim, Orthodox, Catholic and Evangelical houses of warship. And many new under construction. Of course the peaceful celebrations were secured with armed soldiers and police men and women. But they were present just in case anyone would think of disturbing the peaceful celebrations.

Therefore I would like to thank the Eritrean People as a whole for the way they treated me, and welcomed me. Thank you Dawid and Shawit for three weeks hospitality and their help to recover my lost luggage. Thank you Fessehaye for the May 16 - May 21 invitations for Cinema Asmara and Cinema Roma. Thank you Haile for the May 24 entry card for Bahti Meskerem. Thank you Solomon Mehari Jacob for his letter of recommendation.

Thanks to the Kunama singer for his warm response when I came forward in Cinema Roma to honor him. Thank you Dehab Faytinga for sharing a moment with me two days later. And thanks to all the other Eritrean musicians that touched my soul. The many Eritreans in Cinema Roma and on Harnet Avenue that challenged me to dance and celebrate, and Rahel for playing the koboro with me.

I would like to thank Oasis Travel Agency for the fantastic tours to Keren and Kohaito. And Asmara Grande PLC and Young Pioneer Tours for the steam train trip to Arbaroba. The Haz Haz family and Asmara Brewery who invited me to shelter when a rain storm surprised me. The bus drivers and staff who proudly showed me their very modern, as well as their traditional and antique equipment, garages and maintenance sites. The teachers of the The Erafajle School in Medeber who invited me to see their new school.

The shop owners, and restaurant staff, and taxi drivers that did not cheat me as a tourist, but made extra steps not to let me down if the product was not available. The Asmara police for guiding me safely through the masses and allowing me to come forward for better pictures. Nghisti for decorating the teddy bear into a nice souvenir. Demoz and Rita for their special Asmara beers. And the many Asmarinos for their smiles, compliments, and assistance to make it a fantastic time in Eritrea.

As always the last day is reserved to say good bye to the families, travel agents, rushing through all districts of Asmara. Checking my luggage and travel documents. Buying some last souvenirs. Family of my wife add several kilo's of gifts to my rucksack for their families in the Netherlands. When I get in a (shared) cab near the Corea Housing Complex, I have to wait. The taxi will not leave until there are at least three passengers. It gives me some time to have a chat with the driver. Later that day he will recognize me in Harnet Avenue. He stops for a warm greeting. "Do you remember me sir?" Of course I do. Even for the taxi driver I am an honored guest.

Back home I store the extra kilo's in my suitcase and resume my tour through Asmara, until I visited all who are close to me. On my way to Godaif I pass Bar Jima, probably the oldest bar in Asmara. Nice place to have some rest and a coke. A few blocks from the bar I pass a new hotel, under construction, but almost finished. The manager is Mr. Bereket, who used to be the manager of the Selam Hotel, now under renovation. He is proud to show me the new hotel, with its luxurious rooms and modern lightning in the lounge, bar, and restaurants. Unfortunately contact data are not available yet. 

Asmara - Cairo - Amsterdam June 05 2016

Check-in time is at 1 AM at night at Asmara Airport, where I say good bye to Dawid who drops me off.  There are more familiar faces at the outside gate, where the passengers intermingle with there families who came to say goodbye. The Turkish Airlines passengers are the first to enter the departure halls, as their plane will leave 30 minutes before us. The luggage is checked by x-ray machines, and the passengers are searched for weapons, explosives and more. The other exit procedures are very efficient. No more airport tax, no currency documents. Just the passport and safety checks.

We have to wait until 3 AM to board the plane, sitting in the small departure hall surrounded by souvenir, gift and liquor shops. And a bar serving drinks and snacks. Two airport buses move the passengers to the EgypAir Airbus. Take off is at 4 AM and the return trip to Cairo and and Amsterdam is without any problem. In Amsterdam I am happy to find my suitcases on the luggage belt.

 

Cinema Roma - Sematat Avenue Asmara Eritrea.

Cinema Roma - Sematat Avenue Asmara Eritrea.

Bar Jima - Tegadelti Street Asmara Eritrea.

Tourist Hotel in Godaif/Bar Jima - Tegadelti Street Asmara Eritrea.

Tourist Hotel in Godaif/Bar Jima - Tegadelti Street Asmara Eritrea.

Tourist Hotel in Godaif/Bar Jima - Tegadelti Street Asmara Eritrea.

Tourist Hotel in Godaif/Bar Jima - Tegadelti Street Asmara Eritrea.

Tourist Hotel in Godaif/Bar Jima - Tegadelti Street Asmara Eritrea.

Ministry of Tourism - Warsay Street Asmara Eritrea.

Harat regional public transport - Sembel Asmara Eritrea.

Canalized seasonal river - Sembel Asmara Eritrea.

Office of Finance Police - Bihat Street Asmara Eritrea.

Cinema Asmara - Harnet Avenue Asmara Eritrea.