The Addis experience

Am back in the real world, which more feels like a limbo while I'm waiting to return to Africa...

My last few days on the continent of eternal sunshine were "different" to say the least.

I arrived in Ethiopia on a Monday night, it was chilly but fresh and I all of a sudden missed the heat, humidity and the smell of burned firewood.
My driver picked me up and took me to the hotel, which was cheap and old, but clean. I spent roughly 52 minutes in Addis before being asked out for dinner. An offer I firmly rejected.

Tuesday was city  tour and museum day.
Started with the old Djibuti - Ethiopian train station and moved on to the National Museum.
I got to see Haile Selassie's throne and also popped down to the basement to see "Lucy"...
From there we continued to Selassie's old palace, which is now the Ethnological museum. Lots of interesting exhibitions, I was especially fond of the traditional and tribal expo's. But must admit, getting a sneak peak into Selassie's bedroom and bathroom made my day!

After lunch, traditional food with a huge injera bread and a veeeery spicy chicken, I chilled in my room and went to the supermarket to get some coffee, tea and avocado butter. FYI, avocado butter is for external use, lol!

Wednesday we set off to the Ethiopian Rift Valley in order to visit the Awash National Park. The scenery was amazing, the mountains and the vegetation was absolutely fantastic!


Crocodile



After a 5h drive we finally arrived, checked into my room and decided to review my swahili on the terrace outside the hotel.



Early Thursday morning we set off to the park. I didnt see many animals apart from a couple of oryxes and a porcupine, but hey, this aint Tanzania!

The highlight was the waterfalls, just stunning! Nearly stepped on a crocodile though, but I guess those things happens.... Besides, it wasnt very big, so probably would have managed to escape minus my foot, lol!

The return to Addis was nothing like I had expected.

When we came back to the hotel to have breakfast, my driver made a pass on me, and did not seem to take no for an answer. This, in addition to him assuming we would share a room, and making a pass on me the evening before, made me very uncomfortable. To the extent that I lost my temper with him, and told him to return to Addis on his own, and try to explain to his boss why I wasnt in the car.

Said and done!

I gathered my belongings ( a 65L backpack and a huge box with my zanzi chest) and sat down under a tree, hoping a bus would pass at some point. It didnt.

BUT! An older man with a couple of camels did, and he offered me a lift to the next village. There he got me a ride on a donkey with a carriage, and finally I was picked up by some Ugandan UN officials offering me a ride (in a car) back...

My last day in Addis I spent walking around the city absorbing the atmosphere, going to the movies and do some shopping.

In the evening my tour operator took me out for dinner in a fab. Abyssinian restaurant with live music and dance preformances.

That was a great ending to my trip, and after spending a couple of hours in an airport which doesnt know the meaning of smoke ban, and doesnt have a newspaper shop, it was kind of okay to board the plane taking me back to Europe....