Week 11: Ethiopia

This was a bit of a recovery, rest and rejuvenation week. We both had moments where we weren’t feeling so hot, so we just made sure we laid low and got our energy back. However, between the moments of rest, our week was still scattered with some incredible experiences, including many we would never have expected to have in Ethiopia!

We started the week off with a trip to Yemerehne Kirstos, a rock cave built inside a cave. This church is an hour and a half drive from Lalibela, so we rode in a 4x4 vehicle out there. These rock-hewn churches are just incredible works of art! We explored the church and the cave, and saw an area at the back of the cave where they had over 4700 human skeletons gathered.

On our last night in Lalibela, we returned to Ben Abeba restaurant and enjoyed another great meal amidst the beautiful scenery. We also said goodbye to our favourite local kids!

The next morning, we flew from Lalibela back to Addis Ababa, where we would be spending our last few days in Ethiopia. There are three expats living in the house where we are staying, so we have had a great time hanging out with them. Geke made us feel very welcome right away with breakfast and great long chats. The house is beautifully decorated with a lot of her boyfriend, Tamrat Gezahegne's, art. If you're interested in checking out some modern Ethiopian art, google his name and enjoy the images! Another housemate, Felipo, has given us great advice on places to go, and Michaela let me tag along for something REALLY fun… read on! 

Wall of Tamrat's art in the house

Our oasis in the city

10 experiences we wouldn’t have expected to have in Ethiopia:

• We ate delicious pizza, french fries, and smoothies. While our tummies were settling, it was hard to think about having any more injera and shiro, so we were thrilled to find some great western treats! 

• We saw some of the oldest human bones ever found. Lucy is believed to have died 3.2 million years ago, and her bones can be found in the National Museum here in Addis Ababa. We also saw the bones of three-year-old Salem, the oldest, most complete skeleton of a child ever found. We also visited the Ethnography museum here, which was incredibly well curated and organized. We learned a lot about the traditions of the tribes in the south, which I find really fascinating.

• We visited a stunning photo gallery, featuring an Ethiopian photographer. He had done a beautiful job capturing the Azmani people and their treasured masingo, a one-string instrument very popular in Ethiopia.
• I got VIP access to my first ever fashion show! Michaela is a fashion designer and invited me along for the final night of the Hub of Africa Fashion Show. The show featured designers from different countries across Africa, including Kenya, Tanzania and Ghana. It was really neat to see the different fashions and materials used. Following the fashion show, we went to the after party, which was also a first for me. The bar was pretty fancy, and the people there were pretty fancy too. I was quite possibly the only female without high heels, but I got to dance for hours, so I didn’t care!

• We found Bambi’s, which is well known as a ferenji (foreigner) grocery store. We thoroughly enjoyed our window shopping, taking in the strawberries, yogurt, and cereals. Will even found blue cheese! We treated ourselves to sliced deli meat, cheese and bread, and enjoyed every bite!
• We went to see Blade Runner in 3D at a movie theatre! This movie theatre, by the way, was in a mall that had the entire first floor set up as an arcade. Not only did it have tons of arcade games, but it also had a bowling alley, a roller skating rink, a drop zone ride, and a huge climbing gym/ball pit!
• We took a trip to the Sheraton Hotel. This hotel is SO fancy. We were definitely out of place. We walked their jogging track by a set of huge water fountains, and took in their large outdoor swimming pool. If it hadn’t been such a cloudy, chilly day, we would have got day passes to go swimming. Instead, we enjoyed their lounge area and paid for the first fast wifi connection we’ve had in weeks!

• I went to a yoga class! Geke had told me about Tulsi Yoga, so I decided I had to check it out. The space was calm and clean, they provided mats, and the class was in English! My trip to the yoga studio also marked my first solo adventure in months, so I was pretty stoked about getting myself there and back successfully!

• We paid a visit to the Indian Embassy. We are flying through New Delhi on our way to Kathmandu, and had heard mixed messages about needing transit visas for our short layover. After a few hours in various lineups at the Embassy, we were told that we didn’t have to worry as long as we don’t leave the terminal. Fingers crossed that there’s no need to do that!
• We took a few more train trips, hardly believing there is a light rail in Addis. However, after one particularly over-packed ride, where I was solely relying on the toes of my right foot to hold me up, we decided to try walking or taking a taxi when possible. We have walked a TON while we’ve been in Addis, and we feel like it’s been a great way to get to know the city.

Random act of kindness:

Our housemates have been so thoughtful and helpful this week. They have given us so many ideas about things to do and places to see. They have included us in meals, and have chatted with us over yummy hot beverages! It’s been really nice to have other people to talk to and laugh with!