Asmara Eritrea - Adi Sogdo and Biet Makae - February 18 2017
Last day in Asmara. I will do some shopping and a cake walk in and around Asmara. After more than twenty visits to Eritrea I must admit it is difficult to find any new challenges. Walking on Afabet street, I observe a very old Mercedes Benz private bus. An A4 size paper on its front screen shows its destination in Tigrinya. I ask a random passenger translate the Tigrinya text, and I ask for the distance to the destination. "Para-Duba, at a 7-8 kilometers distance from Asmara, not far from Mai Temenai."
Never heart of Para-Duba, but 7-8 kilometers is a one hour walk. So I decide to hop in, and have a blind date with Para-Duba. Traveling this way requires some patience, as the bus will wait until all the seats are occupied. While the bus is waiting, children hop in and out, selling chewing gum, matches, laundry knives, biscuits and more. I take the time to chat with the other passengers. When almost all the seats are occupied, the driver starts the engine (to my surprise it starts at once), and checks the water level in the radiator. He sounds the horn for the passengers waiting outside (having claimed their seat with a bag or a piece of cloth), indicating he will leave, and everyone should board the bus.
After passing Mai Temenai, the bus turns to the left near the animal market, following a rough road for some four kilometers. I carefully memorize the route of the bus, as I will walk back the distance in the opposite direction. At the end of the line I get off. The driver explains the name of the village is Adi Sogdo. The whole area on the right of the road to Keren after Mai Temenai is called Para-Duba
The old-timer Mercedes Benz bus returns to Asmara, sounding its horn, so the passengers will know it is there. I follow the telegraph poles back to Asmara. The landscape and the village are not very atractive from the tourists perspective. The area is agricultural scenery with small scale farming and small houses surrounded by a spacious perimeter. As there is not much of interest, I walk the most efficient route back to the road to Keren.
A short visit to the animal market, where cows, sheep, and goats are sold. No problem to make some pictures. I also visit the compound of the Orthodox Church of Mai Temenai. One of the men gives me a tour to watch the outer paintings on the church. I did not ask him to do so, but he is proud of his church.
Next place to visit is Biet Makae, an interesting traditional village / suburb of Asmara.
Close to the animal market is the Mai Temenai taxi hub, for a taxi to center of Asmara, with four passengers and a goat in the back trunk. At the souk I buy the last products / grains to bring back home, and I have my shoes cleaned, that suffered from the red dusty rough roads around Asmara.
It is not easy to find a taxi to Nda Corea at 15:00 on a Saturday. When it shows up, the public makes a run to have a seat. Just when I think I will have to walk, a friendly young man offers me his seat. He will wait for the next taxi to arrive.
The last day in Asmara was not the most spectacular one, but I am happy I have enjoyed the sun, nature, and hospitality of the Eritrean people. Time to pack my suitcases and wait for Mr. Tekeste of the Asmara Grande Travel Agency, who will do the transfer from Nda Corea to Asmara International Airport in his private car, just before midnight. Asmara International Airport is on a walking distance from Asmara. The only reason to do the trip by car is the heavy luggage that usually accompanies me on trips like these.
Entering the airport parking lot we have to pay a small service charge for the car. Parking is free of charge, but the drop offs are allowed at the airport entrance, where one police man is directing the traffic that mixes with the passengers and the families saying goodbey. The passengers form a row with their luggage carts and wait for the signal to enter the premises.
The handling at the airport is efficient: several security checks, passport check, no paperwork or forms, no airport tax, no questions. With only two or three flights leaving every night the atmosphere is very relaxed and cozy in the one airport waiting hall surrounded by tax free shops and a counter for drinks and fast food.
The husband of Adiam Berhane (Oasis Travel Agency) and the sister of my wife will be on the same flight to Istanbul Ataturk Airport, returning to Italy and Germany. Having a lenghty chat with them will shorten the waiting time. But I did not experience any delayed flights in the 20 years I visited Eritrea with one of the Star Alliance airlines (now Turkish Airlines and Egypt Air). Take off of the Turkish Airlines Airbus to Ta'if Regional Airport and Istanbul Ataturk Airport is at 3:25 AM.
.
Private bus to Para-Duba / Adi Sogdo - Afabet Street Asmara Eritrea.
Private local bus - Para-Duba / Adi Sogdo Asmara Eritrea.
Green cabbages field - Adi Sogdo Asmara Eritrea.
Harvesting - Adi Sogdo Asmara Eritrea.
Horse cart transport - Adi Sogdo Eritrea.
Boy playing with tire - Adi Sogdo Asmara Eritrea.
Scenic view - Biet Makae Asmara Eritrea.
Scenic view - Biet Makae Asmara Eritrea.
Scenic view - Biet Makae Asmara Eritrea.
Coptic Church - Biet Makae Asmara Eritrea.
Coptic Church detail - Biet Makae Asmara Eritrea.
Livestock farmers - Mai Temenai Asmara Eritrea.
Livestock market - Mai Temenai Asmara Eritrea.
Livestock market - Mai Temenai Asmara Eritrea.
Coptic Church - Mai Temenai Asmara Eritrea.
Coptic Church - Mai Temenai Asmara Eritrea.
Coptic Church - Mai Temenai Asmara Eritrea.
Workshops - Souk Asmara Eritrea.
Grain and spices market - Souk Asmara Eritrea.
Exit - International Airport Asmara Eritrea.
Special thanks to the kind services of the Asmara travel agents, and the people of Eritrea. Hope to see you next year!
