Ciuf Ciufit Eritrea - May 30 2009

 

I have a long therapeutic night rest for maximum recovery, and breakfast as usual with Hansu and Afworki.

Hansu invited us to walk to Ciuf Ciufit, a water reservoir and a small village 3 kilometers out of Keren. Hansu explains that water flows from all the mountains surrounding Keren will fill the Ciuf Ciufit lake.

I never knew there was a water reservoir in this area, because I never saw anything but dry river beds. First see than believe.

With Hansu and Claire (a teachers teacher / VSO volunteer from the UK living in a house next to Hansu's house) we do the short hike uphill and than downhill to Ciuf Ciufit.

Just when I am wondering if the water is just a five years old memory of Hansu, we actually arrive at a little lake, where cattle finds their water and children are swimming and splashing.

We take the easy way back to Keren (which is the road that is accessible for motorized traffic).

Hansu promised to take us into the mountains as well, but the morning hike made her too tired. Life is hard in Keren, and people are not used to these exercises, just for fun.

Hansu prepares my favorite food, which is pasta, with a vitamin rich sauce of tomatoes and onions.

Claire returns to show me the May 27 edition of the Eritrean Profile "I think it's you on the picture on the back" she says. She is right. I am happy with her notification, so I san try to find a copy of the newspaper as a souvenir.

It is not easy to find the Eritrean Profile in Keren, especially if it is one of a previous edition. In a stationary at the Giro Fiori town circle, I find the Saturday May 30 edition.

When I explain why I need a copy of the May 27 edition, the shop owner does his best to find one in the storage in the back of the shop. He makes me very happy with this 1.50 Nakfa souvenir.

I have a few extra copies made of my travel permit, and in the evening I store my luggage in a rucksack, and take a good bath to be prepared for the tomorrow morning trip back to Asmara.

  

Uphill to Ciuf Ciufit with Hansu and Claire - Keren Eritrea.

Small lake near Ciuf Ciufit - Keren Eritrea.

Small lake near Ciuf Ciufit - Keren Eritrea.

Small lake near Ciuf Ciufit - Keren Eritrea.

The landscape near Ciuf Ciufit - Keren Eritrea.

Local scenery - Keren Eritrea.

Local scenery - Keren Eritrea.

Local scenery, St Michael Church - Keren Eritrea.

Jebena at night (Hansu still not ready for the picture) - Keren Eritrea.