Mai Sirwa Eritrea - December 04 2007

 

Today's destination is Mai Sirwa. Mai Sirwa is a small oasis of trees on the Asmara plateau fed by a a lake behind a dam. The Mai Sirwa Restaurant and Recreation Center at the lakeside is a popular place for weddings, conferences, and seminars.

Mai Sirwa is also a popular place for bird watching, as the lake and the surrounding trees and vegetation attract many birds, especially Egyptian gooses and speckled pigeons and mousebirds.

It's a 10 kilometers hike starting on the road to Keren, at Mai Temenai. I pause for a few minutes at the Kidane Mehret Church of Mai Temenai, with its beautiful decorated gate. After the church one passes a small livestock market, where sheep and goats are sold.

Just after the village  of Adi Abeito, I turn to the left (you will pass serveral signs indicating the road to Mai Sirwa). From Adi Abeito, it is a three kilometers, half an hour walk to Mai Sirwa.

When coming closer, a small forest indicates that there is plenty of water to be found at this place. Two giant horns mark the entrance of the Mai Sirwa Recreation Center. A Giant jebena, a coffee pot that is used to boil coffee, adorns the bar and restaurant that is surrounded by bougainvillea, flowers and banana trees.

I follow the path to the dam, but when I see the sign "It is not allowed to come close to the dam", I turn back, to prevent any engagements with soldiers guarding this place. I take some rest in front of the restaurant, drinking two bottles of mineral water, enjoying the peaceful surroundings, and listening to the chatting staff.

Back in Adi Abeito, I take the number 3 bus back to Asmara. As a result of the many walks, my rucksack is starting to disintegrate. So I visit the tailor in Asmara that helped me before to make some souvenirs and repaired or shortened my trousers. For a few Nakfa's he replaces the broken parts.

 

Kidane Mehret Orthodox Church - Mai Temenai Asmara Eritrea.

Kidane Mehret Orthodox Church - Mai Temenai Asmara Eritrea.

The road to Mai Sirwa - forking from the road to Keren Eritrea.

Entrance of the Mai Sirwa Recreation Center.

Mai Sirwa Recreation Center.

Giant Jebena - Mai Sirwa Recreation Center.

Wall decorations - Mai Sirwa Recreation Center.

Water reservoir - Mai Sirwa Recreation Center.

Dam - Mai Sirwa Recreation Center.

Water reservoir - Mai Sirwa Recreation Center.