The C.I.A.A.O. organization had many facilities. C.I.A.A.O is
an acronym for Concessione Italiana Alberghi Africa Orientale
which means something like Italian Hotel Concession of East Africa. (Many
thanks to Dave Engstrom for the definition.) The above view shows the hotel
after the U.S.Army took it over as a Rest Center. The picture below
was taken the previous year.
Ralph R. Reinhold©1962
CIAAO©1938
That I know of, besides this hotel, there was a gift store in Asmara
(which may have been part of the C.I.A.A.O. hotel there) and another hotel
in Keren.
Foto Lusvardi@1950
For the colonial era in Massawa, it may have indeed been a grand hotel.
The Massawa C.I.A.A.O. Hotel was prefabricated in Italy. As I remember it, it was in Milano. It was put together in the late '20s or early '30s on the Island of Taulud. According to Eritrean Guide, the Red Sea Hotel now stands on this location. A look at Google Earth will show you some pictures at the location ( 15°36'4.63"N, 39°27'52.70"E):
This picture by Artur Epp is obviously not the same building as in 1962. Click on it to go to his page for some other great pictures of the railroad...Or, if you'd like, go to his home page.
The next year, it was closed according to Chapter
4 of the History of Kagnew Station. It was then replaced by a different Red
Sea Hotel. It was from this location that several of the later
Kagnewite pictures of the railway were taken.
Photo courtesy of Chuck Moulton©1970
The Red Sea was behind the C.I.A.A.O. Hotel. There was also a
small outdoor dance floor, a pool, and a small pier. To the right
of this scene were several cabanas. Judging from the native home
village shown in Asmara Style, these were probably servant's quarters during
the Colonial Era. I will scan and load a picture of those (and some
gazelle behinds) when I find it. My ex-wife, a wildlife artist, probably
has this in her picture morgue. On the horizon, behind the pool lies Green
Island. To the right of it is a mountain.
Ralph R. Reinhold©1962
This mountain is seen better on the two pictures below. The first
is near midday and the second is at sunset.
Ralph R. Reinhold©1962
Ralph R. Reinhold©1962
Behind those trees are the aforementioned cabanas, which are the round objects immediatly southeast of the hotel in the satellite picture from Google Earth.
