Happy New Year

Facing the church, originally uploaded by CharlesFred.

It is 11th September, which means that it is New Year in the Eritrean and Ethiopian Orthodox Church. This time last year we had just arrived in Asmara late in the evening on the 10th, on a flight from Sana'a in Yemen.

We could hear the singing and chanting of the churchgoers, above the music from the discos all night from our room in the Hotel Khartoum and left very early while it was still dark to find the Cathedral. It was dark and misty and there were crowds of people in white robes, standing outside the church, in the garden, underneath the trees, by the walls, against the walls of the church and also many actually inside, while the priests chanting and prayed. An impressive sight. They would carry on most of the day, while we went back to town and found a cafe for a cappucciono and a pastry, Italian-style.

Anyway, we wish the people of both countries a happy year ahead, despite all the misdeneamours of their governements.

Happy New Year.