Wednesday 26 March (day 26)

We leave Meroe heading for Karima.  400km on new tarmac we go up to Atbara and then head west across the Bayuda desert.  We know people that came this same route less than one year ago and none of this road was paved.  In less than one year beautiful road (marked, lit and signposted) has been laid through scorching territory for hundreds of kilometers.  It makes me think of the Mombasa-Nairobi road that took ages and ages to even get started on and is taking ages and ages to finish!!  As usual it is hot, hot, hot.  Even though the road is good it is long day of driving and as it gets hotter and hotter we are only able to drive about one hour each.  The heat makes us so tired and the road and flat open space of the desert is mesmerizing.  As we approach Karima we are close to the Nile again and there are green fields and date palms lining the fertile ground along the river.  We find some rooms at the Al Nassar hotel – nothing much but it does have water and a fan (and electricity!).  Once the sun goes down the town starts to move again and so do we.  We find an outdoor place which serves amazing roasted chicken, grilled fish with fresh ruccola, onions and chillies along with rounds of warm bread on a big metal tray.  For dessert we have a plate of baklava and some tea. Yum!