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Massawa |
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Massawa is Eritrea's most important port, situated on the Red Sea. The old town shows influences of Arabic and Turkish architecture and was home to Haille Selase's imperial palace, now a ruined shell after the fighting for the liberation of Asmara in 1991.
From Asmara, 2300m above sea level the road to Massawa leads through Nefasit and Ghinda to the desert in a spectacular descent of sweeping hairpin bends through beautiful mountains and valleys. The railway, built by the Italians snakes its way up the mountains alongside the road. The railway has been restored since Eritrea's independence and is now operating an occasional service.
To describe Massawa as "hot" would be an understatement. When we visited in September at 9:30 PM the temperature was 42 degrees c and the only way to stop sweating was to take a dip in the sea, which was like a warm bath.
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| Spectacular views on the road to Massawa | |
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| Baboons on the escarpment | |
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| Camels on the salt train | |
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| The 10 Nakfa note railway bridge in the dessert | A monumnet to the battles in Massawa, fighting for liberation from Ethiopia |
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| Haile Selase's imperial palace, much bombed during the battle for Massawa | Carved door at the imperial palace |
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| The beach | Taking a ride to the Hamassien |
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| The beachfront at the gurgeson hotel | Washing Sheep in the Red Sea |