Asmara to Massawa by Rail
Asmara /
Mai Hizni /
Arbaroba /
Nefasit /
Ghinda /
The Flats /
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Nefasit
We descended through endless terraces of sisal, a crop that once provided hemp for rope but even
then had been trumped by the artificial fiber nylon.
Road and railroad routes above Nefasit
(Picture taken from Debra Bizan Monastery across
the valley from Nefasit)
Railroad route into Nefasit from lower down on Debra Bizan
(The letters "A" and "B" match
the same letter locations on the previous picture.)
The Littorina rounded the side the mountain above Nefasit, made a U-turn, and pulled into the
Nefasit station. We sat there ten minutes while the driver disappeared with his operations crank into the
station. As we waited, two camels loaded with wood plodded down the adjoining road behind their
driver.
Camels passing through Nefasit
Moving down the mountain again, now at a gentler decline, we actually heard the groan of the
engine pulling us now and then rather than constantly breaking our descent as it had above Nefasit.
Staying just above the road, the railroad followed the road down the long Nefasit valley. Several stone
bridges gracefully spanned the inner end of side valleys to allow the route to turn easily.
Road and railroad below Nefasit
At the end of Nefasit valley we entered the cloud bank as a bridge crossed the road and guided us
into Embatcalla valley.
Asmara /
Mai Hizni /
Arbaroba /
Nefasit /
Ghinda /
The Flats /
Technical details /
Home page
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Copyright © 2000 Mike Metras, www.WorksAndWords.com