Debarwa Eritrea - December 6th 2006

 

When I arrive at the most northern of the three bus stations, where the buses leave to the Southern destinations (Mendefera/Adi Quala and Dekemhare/Senafe) a bus is just leaving the gate of the premises. "Debarwa?" I ask. I am lucky "Uway!" (yes), is the answer of the driver. There are three seats left on the back seat of the old bus. They are the least popular seats, but they are close to the emergency exit, which will be convenient to get in and out at the Sawa checkpoints.

The passengers sitting next to me, ask me what I am going to do in Debarwa. I tell them about my Eritrean family in law and show them some pictures. I have been to Debarwa before, so I know my way to the house of Alem, the mother of Yordanos. I did not tell them that I was coming, so it is a surprise. With Yordanos brother I walk to the house of Bisrat, his sister, who has her own beauty salon.

From Bisrat's house I walk to the edge of Debarwa, until I reach the hospital, and from there I make a long walk zigzaging through the village. There is a new hotel next to the main road, a lot of construction of new residential buildings. Roads through the village have been asphalted and a new public hall has been opened a few days ago.

Debarwa is a small village, so I do not need more then four hours to see the whole village. I have seen its surroundings two years ago, when I climbed a hill, to visit the Orthodox church of Debarwa. At 14:00 I am back at the bus station, where the bus to Asmara is waiting.

One hour later I am back in Asmara. After a lunch break in the Cathedral Snack Bar, I walk with Selam through the center of Asmara, to find a nice present for Miriam, her daughter, who will celebrate her first birthday on December 8th.

  

Hanibal Hotel (Telephone 159838) - Debarwa Eritrea.

Bisrat and Sidon - Debarwa Eritrea.

Residential house - Debarwa Eritrea.

Wehabit Hotel Bar and Restaurant
 P.O. Box 20015 Debarwa Eritrea, telephone 159820 / 159819

Streetscape - Debarwa Eritrea.

Main Street - Debarwa Eritrea.

Bahre Negestat Public Hall - Debarwa Eritrea.

Streetscape - Debarwa Eritrea.

Hanibal Hotel, telephone 159838 - Debarwa Eritrea.

Main Street - Debarwa Eritrea.