Asmara Eritrea - February 09 2017
The morning hours are for family visits and a visit the the Eritrean National Chamber of Commerce. I meet my 'friend' from Germany, who is offering his assistance. I tell him I will have a lunch and do not need his assistance, and regard his behaviour as annoying. He understands and is gone.
Lunch in the Omer Naser Restaurant. The menu is in Tigrinya, but there is always a translator available, and my favorites are frittata or ful. These basic dishes are served in most restaurants and cafetarias. Bisrat, the kitchen worker who will prepare the ful, remembers me from my previous visits.
An idiot (Zulul in Tigrinya) is addressing me in Tigrinya. I do not understand a word of what he is saying. I decide to 'answer' him in Dutch, hoping he will at least understand what this kind of one way communication feels like. From the other guests in the retaurant I understand he is telling me about Eritrea, expecting a reward, either some food or a drink. I ask the waiter to give him a small meal and add it to my bill. Who cares?
After my lunch I visit the Medeber markets to bring the workers their pictures as well as small gifts I collected in Holland. One of the girls guides me into her workshop. She points at the wall, to what is left of the art work of Fred Siwak. Years ago I received an e-mail from Fred with a small artwork made with the Microsoft program Paint. A butterfly, that should fly to all countries in the world, because Fred was unable to travel, handicapped by ALS. The Eritrean workers added an eye wettening text in Tigrinya. Now most of the art work is eroded, but the fact that the girl remembered that I fixed the artwork to the wall in 2005, more than ten years ago, makes me happy. Fred Siwak died in 2010, but his butterflies are still alive. No problem to make some pictures in and around the workshops.
In the office of Eagle Travel next to the cathedral I will meet Mussie to make the last arrangements for the trip to Massawa. The staff surprises me with tea and a mini pizza. Did I tell them it is my favorite snack, or is it just a coincidence? Mussie will pick me up at 6:30 in the Nda Corea apartment.
The rest of the afternoon is for family visits and a small walk to and through Akrya.
Menu Restaurant Omer Naser - Edaga Hamus Asmara Eritrea.
Medeber workshops - Asmara Eritrea.
Medeber workshops - Asmara Eritrea.
Medeber workshops - Asmara Eritrea.
Medeber workshops - Asmara Eritrea.
Medeber workshops - Asmara Eritrea.
Medeber workshops - Asmara Eritrea.
Medeber workshops - Asmara Eritrea.
Medeber workshops - Asmara Eritrea.
Medeber tea bar - Asmara Eritrea.
Butcher shop - Edaga Arbi Asmara Eritrea.
Textile shop - Edaga Arbi Asmara Eritrea.
Mosque - Akrya Asmara Eritrea.
Stairsway - Akrya Asmara Eritrea.
Coptic Church - Akrya Asmara Eritrea.
Scenic view - Akrya Asmara Eritrea.
