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Published: April 25th 2009
After a large breakfast buffet we bravely set out determined to find the Former Women Firewood Carrier's Co-op AND we decided to walk. Hence the adventure.
First, we needed to cash traveler's cheques. Note to travelers to Addis Ababa: don't bother bringing traveler's cheques! Not that it is impossible to cash them. Just be prepared to witness the most interesting first-hand account of bureaucracy in action. After following directions through the back gate of the Hilton compound, and across the street of neverending traffic, we found the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (apparently the ONLY bank that will cash the cheques). We were lead to the appropriate desk in the inner sanctum of the bankers only to find out the cheques could not be cashed without the purchase receipt (even though we were told at the point of purchase to never have the cheques and purchase receipt together). However, we were also told by Katrinka's sister Trish to expect this. If only we remembered that little piece of advice. We hustled back across the never ending traffic (traffic included donkeys, by the way), through the Hilton's back gate and to our room, retrieved the receipts and repeated the process. Success (after many forms were filled out and filed).
Now, to the Former Women Firewood Carrier's Co-op. Shortly after exiting the hotel's main gate, we were befriended by a small troop of "shoe shiners". The profession was apparently a multi-faceted one; once we refused a shoe shine (Katrinka was wearing her Berk's, Brian his tennies), they appointed themselves our personal guides. The further we walked, the more apparent it became we weren't going to shake them. We tried ducking into a church. They waited outside. Their English was quite good, and they chatted happily with us about everything from Michael Jordan to the history of World Wars. Katrinka also got a brief lecture about Abraham Lincoln. As we passed the National Museum, we instantly decided that this was the day to visit. We enjoyed the museum very much and were a bit of a display ourselves to the school children visiting. As we were leaving, we asked the staff at the information desk about the Former Women Firewood Carrier's Co-op. None were familiar with it, but they did feel strongly that we visit Church Hill Road instead. The museum director even elected a member of his staff to escort us. Our escort was Natnael, a museologist who was very impressed with Katrinka's experience in the field. Natnael not only got us to a great little shop, he helped negotiate fair prices (I think we definitely did not pay the farenge rate) and got us back to the hotel. Lesson number two for the day: even the locals have difficulty with cabbies.
At this point, we were fairly exhausted and elected to have a late lunch by the pool. We also treated ourselves to a couple of fantastic $18 massages. What a day! We did ask the concierge about hiring someone to take us to the Former Women Firewood Carrier's Co-op. We found it on a map with the (conflicting) information of two guidebooks, and learned from the concierge that the price was simply too much, so we sadly have given up on the Former Women Firewood Carrier's Co-op. Overall, it was a great day and a real taste of life in Addis.
Internet connection is slow tonight, so we'll upload pictures later!
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Grandma Kathy
non-member comment
Interesting adventures
What was the intrigue about the "Co-op?"