Blogs from Addis Ababa Region, Ethiopia, Africa - page 32

December 1: After departing Accra (and via two layovers in Lome, Togo and Abuja, Nigeria) Patrick and I made the most of our short time in the Ethiopian capitol of Addis Ababa. With enough qat and coffee in our systems to fuel a rocket, we escaped the evening chill by relaxing in the coffee houses and nightclubs of this interesting East African city. The soothing rhythms of the band and the dim, intimate light of the lounge in which we relaxed was a welcomed lull before our mad dash to Tanzania.... read more

The Sudanese Embassy. AGAIN I went down to the Sudanese embassy the next day too see if there was the remotest possibility of getting the visa that would allow me to continue up to Egypt. Unfortunately not, but Monday was looking good. I did speak to a couple of other travellers that were also waiting. One had his passport open and was looking lovingly at a page. He told me that he had been waiting 6 weeks and only got it by speaking to the ambassador, who issued one personally. He slowly reached out to caress the light blue sticker with the tips of his fingers barely able to believe he had it. There was a Japanese tourist who had spent the better part of 18 months travelling from Japan through China into Europe and then ... read more

Now before I launch into a celebration of the fact that we had finally reached Addis let me remind you what has gone on. Mike & I had set off on Saturday Morning (I didn’t eat breakfast) They tried to over charge us in Lake Nivasha, and then charge us for our bags in Nairobi Saturday night was spent into Isiolo, we woke at 1.30 am to catch a truck at 2am Sunday was spent on a truck, in the back with the cargo. There was the episode during Sunday afternoon when I though my bags had been stolen Sunday night was spent sleeping on the back of a truck Monday was the bus ride from hell Tuesday is today and its early evening and I want a bed I have eaten 1 & 1/2 plates ... read more

The early mornings bring distant sounds of dogs barking, people swimming (at 5am), chanting prayers, bells ringing and the smell of a wood smoke that hovers over the city. I concede that I brought too little candy for the children. There's too many of them. They love posing for pictures and they to talk to people. I do regret not bringing my video camera, but the tendency is just push record everything. If you look real close, you will see that the people are really beautiful. ... read more

We arrived to a dead calm in Addis - 45 dead to be exact. The previous week's protests against election irregularities and the anti-democratic tendencies of the reelected government had spun out of control with hundreds of civilians shot or injured by military and tens of thousands in jail (including all the opposition party leaders and a host of "treasonous" journalists). Our dear host Russel braved the general strike, meeting us at the airport with the only cab driver in the city who was willing to take to the empty streets. How bizarre to be introduced to a stunned, angry, and disillusioned city, as it superficially returned to its vibrant and exceedingly pleasant daily life. Over the course of the next week, we saw a gradual repopulation of Addis's countless sidewalk cafes until they were once ... read more