One of the highlights since we have been here was an overnight trip to Asmara, the capital of Eritrea. It is an amazing place. It was part of an Italian colony in the past and there are still many little cafes that sell expresso, tea and pastries, yum! There is also unique architecture from that period, including Italian and art deco buildings. It is one of the few places that was not bombed during the war with Ethiopia and is a lovely place to walk around and stop in cafes. People there are very friendly and many like to speak English with you. It is also a place where people of different religions live side by side very peaceably. Many countries could learn a lot from the Eritreans. It was a 3 1/2 hour minibus ride from Massawa to Asmara along a very windy road with hairpin turns. We had a very good driver so we were able to enjoy the beautiful views as we traveled from Massawa to Asmara. It has been very warm in Massawa so the cool evening in Asmara felt quite nice.
There is not too much to do in Massawa, but we have been eating well. We have had dinner at a number of the local restaurants (some are quite rustic) and the food has been quite good. We also were invited by one of the local women to have coffee at her home and it was very, very good. They start with roasting the beans in a little tin over charcoal, then crush the beans by hand in a small container, then they place the grounds and water in a ceramic carafe and place it on the charcoal, once it boils they pour it in the cups. Truly excellent coffee and a very enjoyable visit. Even though all the damage from bombing during the war is evident everywhere in Massawa, you can tell this was a beautiful, bustling port in the past.
We tried accessing the internet with no success. So if you have sent email it may be a while before I am able to respond. (This is sent via SSB radio from the boat.)
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