Adi Nefas - Eritrea October 28 2014

 

Today's destination is Adi Nefas. it is a small agricultural village north of Asmara. It is a ten kilometer walk. It is the first heavier effort since I injured my foot on October 23. It is a relatively easy hike I should finish without problems now.

The route is easy: police station #1 - Edaga Arbi - Acria - Adi Nefas - and back by bus (walking back in the oposite direction is another option).

Walking through Edaga Arbi I am spotted by one of the family members of Mebrat, my wife. She invites me to come in and drink coffee. I tell her of my plan to walk to Adi Nefas. "But it is too far to walk!" she says. I tell her the ten kilometers is nothing. I will visit her house on the way back to Asmara center.

In Acria the soil colores red like in HazHaz and the surroundings are more attractive for tourist. One will pass the small cone shaped buildings that used to house the Eritrean soldiers in the Italian era (village of Maria Scalera). There are a few remaining, but I guess the structures are now only used for storage as they do not have any windows.

From Acria it is one long and sometimes winding paved road to Adi Nefas. Passing beautiful landscapes, brick factories, and agriculture. I walk through a typical Eritrean countryside. Hard working farmers bringing in their harvest or ploughing their fields.

When I see the village of Adi Nefas from a distance, I decide to follow the locals who choose a shortcut through the fields and a walk over a mini dam passing the Adi Nefas water reservoir on the left side, where the road curves around the lake on the right side.

The last part of the route to the village is slightly uphil. The village itself is a mixture of traditional houses (hidmo's) and contemporary square concrete houses. I spend some time walking in the village causing some excitement with the local kids. I guess I am one of the rare tourists that visits their village. "Salena! Salena!" the shout. They want me to picture them as well. The adults around tell them to leave the tourist alone. But I have no problem with the kids. Pointing with my hand I direct them in a good possition to make some pictures. As a reward I hand them some chewing gum.

Chewing gum is very popular in Eritrea. Therefore I always carry a family pack. The chewing gum also is a good medicine against thirst if drinks are not available temporarily. Buying the chewing gum on the streets of Asmara (widely available) will add the the income of those eho choose to work for their income, instead of begging for their Nakfa's.

After a 30 minutes stroll through the village I check for the bus stop. An oldtimer Italian bus is waiting for its passengers in front of a small shop on the central square of the village. Only a few seats are occupied, so it will take some time before the bus will leave to Asmara. I claim a seat leaving a plastic shoppingbag with some fruits on one of the front seats. I will circle around the square until I expect the bus to leave. Making fun and more pictures with the youth.

When all seats are occupied I reclaim my seat. Still it will take some time for the bus to leave. Although an (estimated) 24 seater, it leaves with at least 40 passengers. The bus would have been scrapped in Italy a long time ago, but I guess for the driver and his family it is the only source of income. On the route to Asmara more passengers board the bus, making it a cheap and cozy trip to the Edaga Hamus bus station, where I have frittata in Restaurant Naser Omer.

In Edaga Arbi I drink coffee with Mebrat's family and I spend the rest of the afternoon updating the data on our Eritrean information pages, and strolling through Asmara, enjoying my rest days.

 

Shops and workshops - Edaga Arbi Asmara Eritrea.

Shop (interior) - Edaga Arbi Asmara Eritrea.

Traditional houses - Acria Asmara Eritrea.

Contemporary houses - Acria Asmara Eritrea.

Mosque - Acria Asmara Eritrea.

Salena!!!!! (picture us!!!!!) - Acria Asmara Eritrea.

Stocks of bricks - Road to Adi Nefas Asmara Eritrea.

One of the brick factories - Road to Adi Nefas Asmara Eritrea.

Cabbage field - Shortcut to Adi Nefas Asmara Eritrea.

Mini dam - Shortcut to Adi Nefas Asmara Eritrea.

Oncoming trafic - Shortcut to Adi Nefas Asmara Eritrea.

Bringing in the harvest - Shortcut to Adi Nefas Asmara Eritrea.

Ploughing the fields - Adi Nefas Eritrea.

Traditional house (hidmo) - Adi Nefas Eritrea.

Wall painting - Adi Nefas Eritrea.

Traditional house (hidmo) - Adi Nefas Eritrea.

Local scenery - Adi Nefas Eritrea.

Salena! (picture us!) - Adi Nefas Eritrea.

Bus stop (bus to Edaga Hamus) - Adi Nefas Eritrea.

Golden Fork Fast Food Restaurant - Asmara Eritrea.