Dahlak Islands - Massawa - Asmara June 7th 2001

 

At 7:00 we are going to see one of the neighboring islands of the Dahlak Archipelago with some small boats. Due to the high temperatures and the humidity, some video camera's malfunction. The island we visit used to be a prison in both the Italian and the Ethiopian period. We walk over the islands to see the main prison, enter the subterranean prison and see some ancient tombstones. The rest of the curiosities are the many remainders of the war against Ethiopia. We were urgently advised not to pick up any ammunition or weapons if we found any. Walking is very exhausting at these temperatures and there are no drinks available on the island, so I am glad when we get into the small boats that bring us back to Dahlak Kebir.

After a breakfast at 8:30 we are going to have a ride with 52 people on the back of a very old Mercedes Benz truck to see the main island and its villages. Actually there isn't much to see, except some animals, some very small villages and a landing strip, but the ride itself has some elements of adventure. In one of the few shops on the island we buy some very warm Fanta and some souvenirs.

At 12:30 we have a two hour boat trip back to Massawa. They show us some of the other islands (from a distance). A lot of passengers try to get some sleep on the boat. I think the high temperatures are responsible for the bad night's rest. We pass some small fisherman's boats that dance on the waves produced by our vessel.

In Massawa we have lunch in the same restaurant as yesterday. I miss the opportunity to walk a bit in old part of the town. We have a short break at the national monument and a sight seeing through the newly build Massawa Housing Complex instead.

And than there is the trip back to Asmara. At one of the stopovers we pick up an Eritrean soldier. It is quite natural in Eritrea to take good care of its military. He gets food and drinks of the Eritrean passengers in the bus. In Ghinda we buy some fresh fruits. Children are selling lemons and roasted beans. Again I miss the opportunity to see something more of this little town.

 

Ancient tombstones at Dahlak Kebir.

Subterranean prison at Nokra, one of the Dahlak Islands.

Rusty military hardware at Nokra, one of the Dahlak Islands.

Small Dahlaki shop on Dahlak Kebir.

Embarkation for the trip back to Massawa.

Massawa Housing Complex.

Greengrocer in Ghinda.