Since long I have been wanting to come and see this "closed" country, which is mostly reputed for the fact that its citizens are not allowed to leave the country. It is a tightly controlled regime, where freedom of speech and press does not exist. It was therefore with weary expectations I set-off to visit this country for the first time. I had some pre-arranged contacts made through exile Eritreans. Their relatives in Asmara were extremely kind and making my visit a memorable one. I visited Asmara, where I needed to wait around for a couple of days to get my permits so that I could venture outside of the capital. Cities such as Massawa, Ghinda and Karen were on my list.