Flight of
the Ethiopian Airlines Company from Malpensa to
Having
checked in online and having only hand luggage, only at the Malpensa Gate,
before boarding the plane I was asked to show my passport and visa for
So once you
reach Terminal 2 of Bole Airport (
Entry visa:
required, to be requested at the Embassy of Eritrea in
Fax: +39.02.28999550,
e-mail: info@cogemi.com). The same is open from Monday to Thursday from 9.00 to
11.00.
Keep in
mind that the kind and efficient employee of the Consulate always answers both
the phone and email.
The
procedure for obtaining a tourist visa for
It is
necessary to go to the Consulate and hand in a passport photo, the original
passport, 2 completed forms, available at the Consulate (in which you will have
to put the name and address of the hotel where you intend to stay) and a
photocopy of the card. 'Identity. Then after about half an hour you will be
called by the assistant who will ask you some questions about the reason for
your visit. Then he will return your original passport and you will have to
leave him a telephone contact.
Subsequently,
the Milan Consulate will request the Visa Authorization from the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs in
Once the
aforementioned authorization has been obtained, the staff of the Milan
Consulate will call you to notify you and you (or whoever is on your behalf)
will have to go to the Consulate, with the urinal of the Passport and 50 Euros
in cash and you will have to deliver everything to the assistant that in about
half an hour will put the visa on your passport valid for 3 months from the
date of issue that allows you to stay in the country for 1 month. You will also
be given a 50 Euro payment receipt.
Keep in
mind that the visa for
Language:
Tigrinya, Arabic, English. Also known Italian, especially in Amara.
Religion:
Orthodox and Muslim Christian prevalence; consistent Catholic presence and
Protestant minority.
Currency:
Nakfa (ERN)
Once you
arrive, at the
You then
have to go through the baggage check. Mine being a small backpack was not
checked.
Keep in
mind that cell phones do not work in
Please note
that Eritreans are very Friendly and Friendly to tourists and will try to go
out of their way to help you.
Most of
Keep in
mind that in
Keep in
mind that in
In
Keep in
mind that every time you arrive at a hotel you will need to provide your
passport or a copy of it, in order to be registered.
Keep in
mind that the Nakfa has been pegged to the US Dollar for decades, with the
following exchange rate: 1 USD = 15 Nakfa and consequently the exchange rate
with the Euro varies accordingly depending on how much the Euro is quoted
against the Dollar.
Keep in
mind that all Exchange Offices are governmental and therefore everywhere you
will always exchange money at the same exchange rate.
The black
market exists at the following exchange rate: 1 USD = 18 Nakfa, but it is
highly risky and difficult to obtain and therefore it is highly recommended to
change money in the authorized exchange offices.
I exchanged
money first at the airport and then at the Himbol (Exchange Offices) located in
1 EURO =
16.6575 Nakfa
Keep in
mind that tourists visiting Eritrea, outside Amara and its surroundings, are
required to obtain a "Travel Permit for Foreigners", at the Ministry
of Tourism - Information Center open from 8.00 to 17.00 from Monday to Friday
and also on Saturday Morning, located in Harnet Ave, 100 mt. east of the
Catholic Cathedral.
This
"Travel Permit for Foreigners" must be presented if requested at the
numerous checkpoints in
Once I left
the airport, I took a taxi at the price of 200 Nakfa, it took me in front of
the Ministry of Tourism -
Having
arrived at the Ministry of Tourism - Information, at 12.30 on Saturday morning
I could not ask for the "Travel Permit for Foreigners", but I asked
for permission to visit the Tank Cemetery in Asmara, which was issued to me for
free in just 5 minutes.
In Asmara,
I slept at the Pensione Pisa, located on the 3rd floor of a building located in
Harnet Ave, in front of the Cattolica Cathedral, in the center, Tel: 124491,
Mob: 07246708, at the price of 150 Nakfa per night, for a double with shared
bathroom and rooftop terrace on Harnet Street. The reception staff speaks
English. Often there is no water while electricity is guaranteed almost all
day.
Keep in
mind that in
I toured
Asmara a bit on foot and a bit by bicycle, renting it, at the cost of 100
Nakfa, from Salvatore, an Eritrean who lived for several years in Italy and who
therefore speaks excellent Italian and lives in the Gezzabanda district, in
south of the center.
Keep in
mind that it is forbidden to ride on
On the
occasion of a wedding, Salvatore introduced me to the Minister of Education of
Eritrea, who goes around without an escort.
In
• The
splendid
• The
Catholic Cathedral;
• Cinema
Impero;
•
Municipality building;
•
•
• Railway station;
•
•
• Kidus
Michael Orthodox Church (excellent view of the city);
• Cinema
• Greek
Orthodox Church;
•
• The
Markets area;
• Enda
Mariam Orthodox Cathedral;
• Medebar
Market (closed on Sunday);
• God's
• Great
Mosque;
• Multi
Sport Bowling;
• Mai Khah
Khak Fountain;
•
Gezzabanda district;
• From Fortuna Gelato Italiano;
• Evangelical Lutheran Church;
• Villa Roma;
• African
Pension;
• District
of the Embassies;
•
•
•
• Odeon
Cinema;
• Red Cross
Cinema;
•
Roundabout of the Sandals;
• Bar
Zilli;
•
• Irga;
• Fiat
Tagliero;
•
• Alfa Romeo;
•
• Hotel Selam;
• Capitol Cinema;
• Albergo Italia;
• Central
Pharmacy;
•
Commercial Bank of
• Central
Post Office;
• Opera House;
•
• As
On Monday
at 8.00 I went to the Ministry of Tourism -
To do this
you have to communicate to the kind and young staff, where you want to go and
on what day and what means you use. If you use a rental car you must provide
the license plate, the driver's name and the driving license details. Beyond
this you must provide a copy of your visa with the entry stamp, a copy and the
original of the passport and pay 50 Nakfa for each area you want to visit, plus
1 Nakfa for completing the procedure. The timing of issuing the permit depends
on how many and which locations you want to visit. In my case, I got it in just
1 hour. The permit contains all the places you intend to visit and the dates of
the visit.
If you want
to visit the archaeological sites of Qohaito and Metera you must obtain an
additional permit by going to the 1st floor of the National Museum (Open every
day except Sunday from 9.00 am), with a photocopy of the "Travel Permit
for Foreigners" and pay 150 Nakfa. In just 5 minutes you will get it.
You can
make photocopies of the stamped visa, passport and permits at one of the many
copy shops in
It is
always best to carry at least 4 copies of each permit you obtain.
Please note
that there are several checkpoints throughout the country where you will need
to show your permits. If you are in order with the documents you will have no
problem and the Police will be very friendly with you.
At 9.30 on
Monday morning I walked to the Asmara Bus station, located just north of the
market area and I took a minibus which, for the price of 70 Nakfa, took me in
about 2 hours and 30 minutes to Keren, through a very scenic winding road.
In Keren,
the minibus left me in the center, from where I had to walk for about
The context
of Keren mt. 1,400, in the middle of the mountains is truly impressive.
From the
Camel Market I walked for about
From there
I walked for about
•
• Cereals
Market;
• Clothing
market;
• Fruit
market;
• Rotonda
Giro Fiori;
• Monday
General Market;
• G De
Ponti Palace firm;
•
•
• Murals in
front of the
• Monument
on the Hill adjacent to the Murlaes, from which you can enjoy an amazing view
of the city;
• Former
railway station;
•
•
In Keren, I
slept at the Hotel Sicilia, located in
Early in
the morning at 6.00, near the Bus Station, located
From the
Asmara Bus station, located just north of the market area, I took a minibus
which, for the price of 50 Nakfa, took me in less than 2 hours to Ghinda,
through a very scenic road. They charged me the full fare for the
Ghinda is a
beautiful little town surrounded by the Mountains. I walked around it, reaching
a church located on a hill
While it is
true that from the Ghinda Bus Station in
In Massawa
the bus coming from
From there
I took a minibus which frequently connects mainland with the islands of Taulud
and Massawa all day for the price of 3 Nakfa.
I got off
right in front of the Savoya Hotel.
On
The next
day I visited the beautiful
From there
I walked for less than 1km, before reaching the nearby
•
• Kidane
Meheret Catholic Church;
•
• Old
railway station;
• Public
Library;
• Porto dei
Sambuchi;
• Monument
for the struggle for liberation;
• St Mariam
Cathedral;
• Grand
Hotel Dahlak (40 USD per night);
Back on
I went down
to just
I took a
minibus for the price of 50 Nakfa, which took over 4 hours to reach Massawa.
In Asmara,
I slept at the Pensione Pisa, located on the 3rd floor of a building located in
Harnet Ave, in front of the Cattolica Cathedral, in the center, Tel: 124491,
Mob: 07246708, at the price of 150 Nakfa per night, for a double with shared
bathroom and rooftop terrace on Harnet Street. The reception staff speaks
English. Often there is no water while electricity is guaranteed almost all
day.
For the
next 2 days I rented an off-road car with an English-speaking driver, from the
Fontana Rental Car Company, located in
These are the
costs per day:
• Car
rental with driver: 2,000 Nakfa;
• Cost per
km: 3 Nakta (the first
• Cost of
Fuel: depends on consumption;
•
For a total
cost of 6,088 Nakfa (for 2 days of travel), which I shared with three other
people: 2 spouses from
So I paid
1,522 Nakfa.
The first
day I visited:
• The
• The
Valley of the Sycamores;
• Adi Keyh;
• Qohaito:
here the guide Ibrahim, accompanied us at the cost of 200 Nakfa to be divided
into 4 to the following sites: Grand Canyon,
In Adi Keyh,
I slept at the Central Hotel, located in the center, Tel: 650632, at the price
of 400 Nakfa per night, for a double with shared bathroom and mosquito net. The
reception staff speaks English. Hot water is almost always guaranteed, as is
electricity. I shared the shopping with the Italo-Eritrean boy.
On the
second day I visited:
• Senafe;
• A church
on the southern slope of
• The
archaeological site of Metera (free admission);
•
Dekemhare;
I must say
that I got along very well with the driver Taddy who knows the Eritrean
territory very well, being a former soldier.
Back in
Asmara, I slept at Pensione Pisa, located on the 3rd floor of a building
located in Harnet Ave, in front of the Catholic Cathedral, in the center, Tel:
124491, Mob: 07246708, at the price of 150 Nakfa per night, for a double with
shared bathroom and rooftop terrace on Harnet Street. The reception staff
speaks English. Often there is no water while electricity is guaranteed almost
all day.
The next
day, having canceled my return flight, I went to the Egyptair Office, located
in
Then I went
to the second bus station of
In
Mendefera I went down to the center and visited:
•
• Shaikh
Mohammed Sraj Mosque;
• Orthodox
Church of S Giorgio;
In
Mendefera an Agent in Borghese checked my “Travel Permit for Foreigners” on the
street.
Then I went
to the bus station located in
In
From here I
walked on
From the
Korean Complex it is necessary to walk for about
Please note
that
Keep in
mind that it is not possible to convert Nakfa into Euros or Dollars and that it
is forbidden to export more than 500 Nakfa outside
To spend
the remaining coin, you can buy Souvenirs, in the shops located in the airport
gate area.
At the
airport (access to which is guaranteed only to those who have a plane ticket),
after check in, you must go to the border desk, where you can easily get the
exit stamp from the country, then there is the security check where they wanted
to throw away my Stilo batteries, but in the end I convinced them not to.
Flight of
the Egyptair Company from
My complete travel report
with map, photographs and videos is available at this link:
https://vivendosalendo.blogspot.com/2020/02/viaggio-in-eritrea-attraverso-le.html
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