![](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_iNSpfNcQ0Sg/SmH-Y_XiSiI/AAAAAAAABkM/i0HgsoK3y9w/s400/massawa+011.jpg)
As you descend from the Hamasien highlands, you're confronted with a dramatic drop within a few kilometers. Above is the drop in the early morning, below the sun is coming up.
![](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_iNSpfNcQ0Sg/SmH-nqpBizI/AAAAAAAABlU/xdrGOS_V8XU/s400/asmara+085.jpg)
![](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_iNSpfNcQ0Sg/SmH-m6Qdw7I/AAAAAAAABk0/m6818sz2DR8/s400/asmara+114.jpg)
Ghinda, about halfway between Massawa and Asmara is extremely fertile and has created ways to make use of the slopes by creating steps.
![](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_iNSpfNcQ0Sg/SmH-vTgj37I/AAAAAAAABlc/ts3WlJCzNbE/s400/asmara+095.jpg)
Massawa bore the brunt of much of the thirty year war with Ethiopia, as well as the 1998-2000 war over Badme. Despite the marks of war on many buildings, one can still appreciate that the architecture of Massawa uniquely reflects Italian influence and Eritrean building styles.
![](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_iNSpfNcQ0Sg/SmH-nfE9kOI/AAAAAAAABlM/nt-5fdnM1pQ/s400/asmara+091.jpg)
![](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_iNSpfNcQ0Sg/SmH-nNdz36I/AAAAAAAABlE/7D7v5h9yOvg/s400/asmara+103.jpg)
![](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_iNSpfNcQ0Sg/SmH-m8WANKI/AAAAAAAABk8/zQddhZXrgko/s400/asmara+106.jpg)
Below is the famous Dahlak hotel, where my parents, brother and I stayed fairly cheaply (thank you mom and dad).
We got stranded in a small motor boat between Massawa and a tiny island where we were going for the day.
![](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_iNSpfNcQ0Sg/SmH-ZE3tYaI/AAAAAAAABkU/rlwZhagRuTc/s400/massawa+008.jpg)
Massawa by night-- after the worst of the mosquitoes have left.
I won't write much here about Massawa; I mean no disrespect to all the stories that need to be told and am sorry for such a touristy perspective. That said, perhaps we could do with a little tourism in Massawa!
The most recent easy-to-read book on Eritrea is "I didn't do it for you
___
Coming soon:
Asmara photos
Summer recipes
Requests?
Update:
Our washer-dryer system has paid for itself! Yeah! We spent about $150 on the system, and have been using it since January. Before buying the washer and spinner, we spent about $5.50 a week at the laundromat. In terms of time, it's about equal and although we use much more human energy with the Wonder Washer, it's worth it.
1 comment:
What interesting memories of those 13 months!
Part 2 of Cape Town/Durban is also a distant memory!! Is it going to come?
Post a Comment