A Weekend Away

Just back from a long weekend in Massawa, one of Eritrea’s 2 main ports and beach resorts. Spent a day in the war-ravaged old town, beautiful and tragic at the same time. More of this from Phil later. And a hedonistic day at the beach. Water was an incredible temperature, not just warm, it was hot. Unlike an English beach where the sea is usually an occasion for a quick swim to keep warm and then out, the Red Sea provided the backdrop for social gatherings, Everywhere you looked around you in the water, people were meeting up, shaking hands, and conversing. The hum of conversation was everywhere. The beach was pretty empty, much too hot to stay there (apart from for the camels, which replaced donkeys as the seaside ride of choice) and we spent our day eating drinking, frolicking in the waves and reading.
Talked to lots of Eritrean families from overseas, we were surrounded by American, Swedish and North London accents which we still haven’t got used to and made several new friends. Up early yesterday (Sunday) and were on the 6.20 bus back to Asmara and rain.

C