Reunited

June 11, 2014

Addis Ababa 

Arrived at 6:15 am

Went through customs, well the agent checked our visas and we continued to baggage claim and everything was there! Easy! 

Hailey was waiting for us and it was exciting and emotional seeing her for the first time in almost a year. We took a shuttle to the Harmony Hotel, passed through security to enter only to find that they didn't have the reservation. Hailey fought with them, but they claimed they were full. We did end up with a room though for $200 + an extra hundred for early check in. Don't understand how you can get a beer or a huge bottle of water for less than a dollar, but the room can be that expensive; a question I think might be something I ponder about for a while. The exchange rate is about 20 Birr to each American dollar, by the way. 

We ate our free, included breakfast, Hailey thoroughly enjoying the bacon and other delicacies she has gone without, and caught up!

We took a short nap and woke up to get ready to go take care of business, like purchasing airline tickets and exchanging money. It began to rain outside so we decided to wait out what turned into downpour and intermittent power outages. Finally, the storm passed through and we left. 

We weaved through the town of Addis Ababa in a taxi to find Ethiopian Airlines. 

The town is large, very crowded, very smoggy and dirty, and seemingly under construction. People walk and drive wherever they want. There are no rules. People dart across the street right in front of cars. Intersections function like a game of Frogger. Cars just go, honking and playing continuos games of chicken. Riding in the front of the taxi was well, unforgettable, however we did arrive safely, entering through guarded gates and security checks, to the Hilton Hotel. Very high end. Checked to stay there on our next Addis night, but it was $450 a night. One again, causing me to try to understand the irony of it all. 

Ethiopian Airline's system was down so we were instructed to go to Radison Blu. We walked there and even had to cross a street to get there. Which, even with my complaining, turning out to be a safe venture. We waited in the lobby a few hours for our turn to place plane reservations through Ethiopian Air to Lalibella and from Lalibella to Gondar. We watched an entourage of official looking men walk in, who we later found out included, most likely, the president of Sudan or South Sudan, walk in. Supposedly, there are Peace Talks going on. 

Hailey bargained to get a taxi for 175 Birr which took us back to Harmony Hotel. The ride seemed less death defying, but Hailey said that was because I was riding in the back that time. I tried to snap pictures of the intersection mayhem with the nonworking traffic lights in the background, but they, in no way close, capture the essence of the experience. We, again, made it back to the hotel safely thanks to the "gobez" driving of our taxi driver!

We marveled at Hailey's ability to communicate in Amharic and it was very impressive to watch, in addition to enjoying the reactions of the local people to her obvious command of the language and it's nuances.

We went a few doors down to Bole Rock for dinner and a few home brewed, 17 Birr beers. We checked out the attached hotel and ended up booking a room there for the nights before and after the safari, including the storage of our luggage for about $70 a night!

We returned to Harmony Hotel after going to purchase water at a suk, an Ethiopian convenience store, reminding us of a 7-11, where we purchased 3 1.5 liter bottles of water for 27 Birr. We were followed back by an Ethiopian woman who didn't speak, but obviously wanted something. The hotel let her pass through security and she tried to follow us up to the room. We told security and they spoke with her. While she was distracted, we quickly entered the elevator to our room. We exchanged some money and went to bed!

However, now I'm awake again 4 hours later...