ERITREA ... ... ... former Italian colony, has always been synonymous with war ... the exact opposite quiet holiday by the sea ..., place to be adventurous travelers
... these are the definitions, not very encouraging, given by tour guides, even though since 2000, after the peace agreement signed with Ethiopia, the country began to open up the world with all its beauty, with all its hospitality.
David meeting by chance on a site of passengers to the end of the year wants to visit Eritrea, I do not miss this chance.
early morning, the airport of Asmara welcomes us cold and wet and with a myriad of forms and controls,
few people out, too few taxis - petrol costs 2 €, start the engine is a luxury that few can afford.
Asmara, is very Italian in all, a roma African the little Rome called, Italic and the footprint can be seen in every corner: in architecture, urbanism, public places, stores, and furniture, not least in the way of "living " - it takes me a few minutes to settle: the wide avenues, the modern bar, coffee Rome, the Empire cinema, the opera, the Fascist-style buildings, the old signs, ...
Almost all speak a bit here 'in Italian, or understand it, the old really well, you see them on Sunday, Elegant in jacket, tie and vest, even though the cut of a little 'retro , address and courteous manner, gladly exchange a few words: we see that they are educated, their Italian is perfect, a bit 'archaic, an Italian of the past, learned in school and not in the street, is a source of pride for them to have attended the Teacher training college. I would say they are proud of their city, their country and as the Italians have left everything.
From Asmara, at almost 2,400 meters., I get off the bus to Massawa to the sea, and almost beside the rail road runs a dream, an apparition that only someone who has been in Africa can think you've seen, and perhaps later, even believe it.
Built between 1897 and 1911 by Alpine and sharpshooters during the colonial period, the narrow-gauge railroad jointing, with its 120 miles and a hundred bridges, viaducts and tunnels, the Red Sea with the interior plateau, a bold path, a masterpiece of design, an Italian engineering pride.
The locomotives and Ansaldo Breda first, and then two modern Littorine continue along until the '70s.
Then, during the thirty-year war with Ethiopia for independence, was dismantled and reduced to " iron mine," the rails and sleepers removed to obtain shelter, protection and anti-tank obstacles, and wagons converted into homes or stores.
Following independence, however, the mid-'90s, thanks to the efforts of the newly formed government, the rebuilding begins, is traced the missing material, all of those sleepers scattered and abandoned trenches, to restart the Littorine, the Ansaldo Breda and are invoked in the railroad service at the time, average age 70 years, Italian media names and Eritrean media, a "crew " and proud of old pensioners.
And the miracle happens, the Eritrean Railways operate again.
Rail is solid, the Italians have built.
hundred years ago.
Outside, all around, Africa.
... these are the definitions, not very encouraging, given by tour guides, even though since 2000, after the peace agreement signed with Ethiopia, the country began to open up the world with all its beauty, with all its hospitality.
David meeting by chance on a site of passengers to the end of the year wants to visit Eritrea, I do not miss this chance.
early morning, the airport of Asmara welcomes us cold and wet and with a myriad of forms and controls,
few people out, too few taxis - petrol costs 2 €, start the engine is a luxury that few can afford.
Asmara, is very Italian in all, a roma African the little Rome called, Italic and the footprint can be seen in every corner: in architecture, urbanism, public places, stores, and furniture, not least in the way of "living " - it takes me a few minutes to settle: the wide avenues, the modern bar, coffee Rome, the Empire cinema, the opera, the Fascist-style buildings, the old signs, ...
Almost all speak a bit here 'in Italian, or understand it, the old really well, you see them on Sunday, Elegant in jacket, tie and vest, even though the cut of a little 'retro , address and courteous manner, gladly exchange a few words: we see that they are educated, their Italian is perfect, a bit 'archaic, an Italian of the past, learned in school and not in the street, is a source of pride for them to have attended the Teacher training college. I would say they are proud of their city, their country and as the Italians have left everything.
From Asmara, at almost 2,400 meters., I get off the bus to Massawa to the sea, and almost beside the rail road runs a dream, an apparition that only someone who has been in Africa can think you've seen, and perhaps later, even believe it.
Built between 1897 and 1911 by Alpine and sharpshooters during the colonial period, the narrow-gauge railroad jointing, with its 120 miles and a hundred bridges, viaducts and tunnels, the Red Sea with the interior plateau, a bold path, a masterpiece of design, an Italian engineering pride.
The locomotives and Ansaldo Breda first, and then two modern Littorine continue along until the '70s.
Then, during the thirty-year war with Ethiopia for independence, was dismantled and reduced to " iron mine," the rails and sleepers removed to obtain shelter, protection and anti-tank obstacles, and wagons converted into homes or stores.
Following independence, however, the mid-'90s, thanks to the efforts of the newly formed government, the rebuilding begins, is traced the missing material, all of those sleepers scattered and abandoned trenches, to restart the Littorine, the Ansaldo Breda and are invoked in the railroad service at the time, average age 70 years, Italian media names and Eritrean media, a "crew " and proud of old pensioners.
And the miracle happens, the Eritrean Railways operate again.
Rail is solid, the Italians have built.
hundred years ago.
Outside, all around, Africa.
