Addis Ababa
View on the way in from the airport. Interestingly enough the city,
which seemed scruffy and dangerous in the begining, seemed quite friendly
and interesting at the end.
Shoe shine stand on the street corner. All kinds of odd things (and
odd people) can be seen in the city.
Driving is chaotic, as brand-new aid agency Toyotas jostle for position
with ancient Lada taxis. People constantly are walking on the side of the
roads, and have an alarming habit of walking out into the street without
looking.
Livestock driven in from the outskirts adds to the excitement.
Women haul fodder and fuel wood from the hills surrounding the city
miles into the markets.
Imposing Communist monuments and architecture is scattered between
old Italian-style houses and newer flat -roofed concrete buildings.
The coffee is famous, and one shop let you 'taste test' the
different grinds.
We could then get the ones we liked packed up to take home.
Normally of course coffee is served everywhere, in your choice of
black, with foamed milk, etc.
A good place to get a coffee is in the pastry shops that seem to
be everywhere.
Orthodox church construction is a big thing, as it is in the rest
of Ethiopia.
The Sheraton stands out in town like some sort of palace. Not like
we stayed there or anything, but it was interesting to visit.
Hot springs were another thing to check out.
Plenty of souvenir shopping.
