Kassala – Part Two

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Go back to Kassala – Part One.

Kassala

Taka Mountains.

The following day we did a two hour approach to a route on the southern aspect of a formation. Got up a pitch and were positively baking in the sun. Bailed again. Did some more sightseeing around Kassala including checking out the beautiful, open air mosque at the foot of Taka Mountains followed by a camel and goat market on the “backside” of the range. Ghazi must’ve noticed my shaking hands during the prior days and so he surprised us with a bottle of local medicine: made from dates and locally distilled. It’s called Arage and is served up in a plastic water bottle.

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Kassala

Khatmiyah Mosque.

The next day we did another long approach hike to yet another route. This turned out to be very uninviting. What was referred to as a crack turned out to be a shallow, unprotectable groove. On the upside, we were accompanied by a family of baboons with the large male putting on a show for us (intimidation).

Photos

Kassala

The objective from the hike up (Dec. 2021).

Kassala

Shirley on the way up (Dec. 2021).

Kassala

Following the goat trails in the morning (Dec. 2021).

Kassala

Here comes the sun (Dec. 2021).

Kassala

Shirley just a little warm (Dec. 2021).

Kassala

Views (Dec. 2021).

Kassala

A bit of scrambling on the way up (Dec. 2021).

Kassala

Shirley near the base (Dec. 2021).

Kassala

Views to the east. Eritrea border runs along those mountains in the distance (Dec. 2021).

Kassala

Taka Mountains (Dec. 2021).

Kassala

Shirley nearing the base (Dec. 2021).

Kassala

Shirley at the base of a route (Dec. 2021).

Kassala

Leading one of the handful of pitches we climbed there. This one is on a south face and more than a little warm (Dec. 2021).

Kassala

Higher on the same pitch (Dec. 2021).

Kassala

Views of Taka Mountains (Dec. 2021).

Kassala

One more of the pitch (Dec. 2021).

Kassala

A tiny bit of climbing (Dec. 2021).

Kassala

Pretty scenery (and hotter than hell; Dec. 2021).

Kassala

Shirley baking (Dec. 2021).

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Shirley taking in the views (Dec. 2021).

Kassala

Views towards Eritrea (Dec. 2021).

Kassala

Spying on some villagers (Dec. 2021).

Kassala

A pano of Taka Mountains (Dec. 2021).

Kassala

Taka Mountains (Dec. 2021).

Kassala

Hiking down (Dec. 2021).

Kassala

A respite from the sun (Dec. 2021).

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Waiting in the shade for Ghazi to pick us up (Dec. 2021).

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On the phone waiting for an Alaska Airlines rep at our apartment in Kassala (Dec. 2021).

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Ghazi, Shirley, and some village kids (Dec. 2021).

Kassala

Mountains from the edge of the village (Dec. 2021).

Kassala

Taka Mountains (Dec. 2021).

Kassala

Taka Mountains (Dec. 2021).

Kassala

Village kids (Dec. 2021).

Kassala

Taka Mountains (Dec. 2021).

Kassala

On the way to see the beautiful Khatmiyah Mosque (Dec. 2021).

Kassala

Khatmiyah Mosque (Dec. 2021).

Kassala

Shirley and Ghazi inside the open air Khatmiyah Mosque (Dec. 2021).

Kassala

A curious visitor (Dec. 2021).

Kassala

Khatmiyah Mosque (Dec. 2021).

Kassala

A selfie (Dec. 2021).

Kassala

Khatmiyah Mosque (Dec. 2021).

Kassala

Two wankers at Khatmiyah Mosque. Photo by Ghazi (Dec. 2021).

Kassala

Khatmiyah Mosque (Dec. 2021).

Kassala

Yours truly and Ghazi in front of Khatmiyah Mosque (Dec. 2021).

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The tomb structure at the mosque (Dec. 2021).

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Back at the camel market on the east side of the Taka Mountains (Dec. 2021).

Kassala

At the camel market (Dec. 2021).

Kassala

Kassala camel market (Dec. 2021).

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Ghazi inquiring about the price for us (Dec. 2021).

Kassala

The men showed us a sword – a Kassala specialty (Dec. 2021).

Kassala

The sword (Dec. 2021).

Kassala

Kassala camel market (Dec. 2021).

Kassala

This man offered us a cheaper alternative to the sword (Dec. 2021).

Kassala

Ghazi with some of the men at the camel market (Dec. 2021).

Kassala

At the camel market (Dec. 2021).

Kassala

Kassala camel market (Dec. 2021).

Kassala

Not sure why the baby goat is fitted with a bottle (Dec. 2021).

Kassala

Kassala camel and goat market (Dec. 2021).

Kassala

Kassala camel market * (Dec. 2021).

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Fully air conditioned (Dec. 2021).

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Shirley and Ghazi at the Kassala souq (Dec. 2021).

Kassala

While we waited for the handle of our newly purchased sword to be swapped out, some enthusiastic vendors invited us to check out some other stabbing implements (of the sort that would raise red flags on the way home; Dec. 2021).

Kassala

An outdoor cafe under a tree in Kassala (Dec. 2021).

Kassala

Shirley on another hike up to check out a route (Dec. 2021).

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Long range view of Khatmiyah Mosque (Dec. 2021).

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Taka Mountains (Dec. 2021).

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Outskirts of Kassala as seen from the mountains (Dec. 2021).

Kassala

Khatmiyah Mosque (Dec. 2021).

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Taka Mountains (Dec. 2021).

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A selfie (Dec. 2021).

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Some company on the hike up (Dec. 2021).

Kassala

Looking up at the groove (Dec. 2021).

Kassala

The groove (Dec. 2021).

Kassala

Taka Mountains (Dec. 2021).

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Angry old dude…kept telling us to fuck off (Dec. 2021).

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Same guy (Dec. 2021).

Kassala

Hey there sunshine (Dec. 2021).

Kassala

Taka Mountains (Dec. 2021).

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Shirley and the mountains (Dec. 2021).

Kassala

More Take Mountains wildlife (Dec. 2021).

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More grooves (Dec. 2021).

Kassala

Shirley on a high plateau (Dec. 2021).

Kassala

A dassie a.k.a. a hyrax (Dec. 2021).

Kassala

Taka Mountains (Dec. 2021).

Kassala

Taka Mountains (Dec. 2021).

Kassala

Taka Mountains wildlife (Dec. 2021).

Kassala

More Taka Mountains wildlife (Dec. 2021).

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So cute; so tasty (Dec. 2021).

Kassala

A thatched structure and Taka Mountains (Dec. 2021).

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Waiting for Ghazi in the shade (Dec. 2021).

Kassala

Medium rare (Dec. 2021).

Kassala

Another excellent coffee place (Dec. 2021).

Kassala

Shirley and Ghazi about to dig into some very good baklava and some outstanding coffee (Dec. 2021).

Kassala

A family run operation (Dec. 2021).

Kassala

School girls in Kassala (Dec. 2021).

Kassala

Taka mountains from the edge of town (Dec. 2021).

Kassala

Taka Mountains as seen from the cemetery in Kassala (Dec. 2021).

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