Massawa Eritrea - October 24th 2003

 

After a good shower and good nights rest I return to the port area. I want to visit the salt pans and ask one of taxi drivers what the roundtrip will cost. The driver decides he will make his day and wants to charge me 20 dollars or 400 Nakfa. I would expect 100 Nakfa, so I consider his bid an insult. He wants to negotiate, but I immediately choose to ask the driver on the other side of the street. He charges me 200 Nakfa. Must be too much as well, but he looks friendly, and it gives me the idea I got a 50% discount.

He does his best to make it a nice tour. On my demand he halts at interesting places. When we enter the Massawa Salt works I am a bit frightened. During earlier visits to Eritrea I learned that you need permission to enter areas like these (and so close to the Naval Base). "You don't have to be afraid, the guard is my friend" he tells me. Within 30 minutes the tour is over.

I ask him to leave me in front of the Massawa Housing Complex, residential buildings, offices, schools and government buildings build just before the year 2000. "Best home, best life", but you must get acquainted to the hot climate in the area. The only bar and restaurant in the area is closed. There is a government organized meeting during these hours, and they want everyone to close their business. Being thirsty, there is no alternative then to take a taxi back to the Dahlak hotel.

When I return to the port area, the employees of the Eritrea restaurant explain I will have to wait to 18:00 to have diner. Government regulations. The meeting is still in progress. After finishing my meal, I walk through the scarcely lightened streets, looking for a cozy bar to have a drink. Being one of the very few tourist, everyone, especially the whores, do their best to amuse me, and I do my best to change places, to stay out of trouble.

 

Residential building - Massawa Eritrea.

Salt pans of Massawa Salt Works Eritrea.

Massawa salt works Eritrea.

Massawa salt works Eritrea.

Massawa Eritrea - Massawa Housing Complex.

Massawa Eritrea - Massawa Housing Complex.

Massawa Housing Complex. Municipality of Massawa.

Massawa Eritrea - Massawa Housing Complex.

Massawa Eritrea - Massawa Housing Complex.

Sigalet cinema and recreation center - Massawa Eritrea.

Small scale trade of salt - road to Asmara - Massawa Eritrea.