Radisson Blu Hotel, Addis Ababa

... e siamo arrivati in quello che chiamano &#8220;aeroporto&#8221; di Gambella.<br><br>La struttura che ospita i passeggeri è composta da 2 container: nel primo c&#8217;è una scrivania dove si fa il check-in, ti danno la carta d&#8217;imbarco (ovviamente non compilate in quanto non c&#8217;è nessun gate) e ti perquisiscono da testa a piedi compresi tutti i bagagli in quanto non hanno nessun tipo di metal detector. Nel secondo container c&#8217;è una sala da attesa ...

... find a decent internet connection - and lucked out after getting some good info from our friend Derege, whom we'd met up in Lalibela. We then went with Derege to dinner that night at the famous and delicious Castelli's restaurant - an institution since the Italian occupation, and very authentic (I actually had to bust out my paltry Italian to try to explain to the rather large, gruff proprietor how to use my camera upon asking him to take a picture of me, Lydia and ...

... airport, after a brief visit to the Ethipian capital. We stopped at the parking lot and paid Sessey for the ride. We were satisfied of what we had from our first city we visited in Africa. I knew one thing: I will be back to Ethiopia one day. I got the impression that the cultures in Sub-Saharan Africa are divided into two: Ethiopia and the rest of Africa. This is a ridiculous thing to say, but it was only an impression. I'm not an anthropologist, after all...

... me feel, well, uncomfortable. Whilst we had sorted out our own kit, Beline had been using the rice and packets of noodles to make up food parcels. She will go through the bus contents and work out the best use for all of the items in slow time. The food parcels were just an immediate fix. It was raining heavily by the time we got to the compound and we were hurriedly shown in to the 'landlords' home. It's a mudbrick building, a reasonable size lounge with a ...

... goods to be donated over money, so we delivered mass quantities of fruit for the kids. We filled a whole minibus with yummy oranges. With the fast increase of food prices, one of the first things to go is fresh fruits and veggies, so this was a fine idea! And, I'm sure the guy at the fruit stand didn't mind this transaction either. :) We visited a women's co-op pottery and all bought some beautiful things ...

... a lucky boy he is. The ladies at the guest house were very cute at meeting him. They just swoop down and pick him up and smother him in kisses, which he takes all in stride. In Canada, we'll coo over other people's babies, but not usually pick up stranger's children on the streets! Sometimes I think it would be nicer if we did... Noah was extremely good and seemed to bond well today. The transition house did not place any restrictions on ...

... of German and Ethiopian tastes) before they head down to Kenya via Marsabit. Arriving in Addis was not a pleasant experience. About 30 km south of Addis there were huge traffic jams and we were literally inching ahead for a couple of hours. By the time we reached the city, it was dark, rainy and extremely difficult to navigate. Kids would jump over the highway fences and then bolt full speed to the other ...

... to this philanthropic effort. The scene at this extremely basic unofficial orphanage was quite touching--kids smiling and appreciative! &nbsp ; ; ; ; ; ; &nbsp ; ; ; ; ; ; &nbsp ; ; ; ; ; ; &nbsp ; ; ; ; ; ; &nbsp ; ; ; ; ; ; &nbsp ...

... filter with larger-grained sand. To separate and save the larger grains of sand from the dust, we used a vegetable strainer, an inspired solution but very intensive job. We spray painted our Can-Go Afar, APDA, and Afar Bureau of Health logo on each filter. This project is now having both traction and style! The water flow rates, now far too fast, still need to be adjusted by varying the sand grades (by adding back in some amount of finer grade ...

... day (1st December) we hitched a lift and arrived in Lalibela. This ancient town has 11 rock-hewn churches of around 8th century, with more in the surrounding countryside. The most famous is Bet Gyorgis, carved underground out of solid volcanic rock, in the shape of a Greek cross. On the Sunday (2nd) we rose early and climbed a mountain above the town to see mass st the monastery of Asheten Maryam. After a hearty lunch, we then visited the largest Lalibela church ...