January 18, 2014

It is our last day in Ethiopia.  That makes it a sad day.  We have enjoyed our time here so much and realize that there are so many things that we could have done and so many things that we will miss.

We were up and ready for David to pick us up so we could drive up to Entoto. 

The streets are busy, busy, busy.  It is Timkat today - the Orthodox holiday of Epiphany.  There will be processions and parties in every neighborhood, but first they must decorate.  The Ethiopian flag and colors are everywhere, lining every street and decorating every round-about.  You can see the joy that the men are having hanging the flags and banners.  I am amazed that they manage to do it on their rickety ladders in the busy streets.  It is with all things, they do it in spite of their surroundings.

Pochi and Hana are with us again today.  We love having them along, but we know that it is a sacrifice for them to spend the day with us.  For this we are grateful. 

The drive up the mountain is windy and narrow.  We begin to see the donkeys laden with wood and hay making their way down the steep road.  But what we have not seen prior to this trip is the wood carriers.  Women that make their living gathering branches on the mountainside and carrying the bundles down to sell as fuel in the city.  Their loads are around 80 pounds and earn them only about $1.  It is hard to stomach that kind of injustice and poverty.

At the half-way point we stop at a site that has become a tourist attraction here.  Entoto museum and Emperor Menelik's royal palace.  No pictures were allowed in the museum, but the wealth of jewels and history there was amazing.  One of the highlights for me personally was the Olympic gold medal on display as a gift from Gezahegn Abera.  I know, it's not ancient history, but it was a little closer to home for me - a lover of the Olympic games.

We moved from the museum to the palace and were able to see that close up.  It isn't what one might expect of palaces in the western world, but it was a pretty amazing place none-the-less.

View through the dining hall window

 

The guard at the palace
Sleeping quarters on the right, living quarters on the left

 

The back yard

 

Window into the sleeping quarters

 

This lady was an accomplished photo bomber. 
Unfortunately, she wanted to be paid for her services

Having spent about and hour and a half, we headed back down the mountain.  Beating the Timkat processionals was a top priority.  Not far from the museum, David pulled over so that we could get out and take some pictures and look at the city from above.  It was a pretty hazy day so the view wasn't the greatest, but it was fun to look out over it all.  I'm always amazed at the beauty that shines through.  As we were standing there, a woman came with some baskets she had made.  Mom was able to buy her only large basket, which was a really fun thing to have!  Many people were along the road.  I'm not sure if they were heading somewhere or if they were there solely to beg, but there they were. 

Back in the car we took the last opportunity to stop in the market place for a few last items.  They didn't have all that I was hoping to find, so I resigned myself to go home without some of my most wished-for items.  We only spent a few minutes there before continuing on.  It was time for lunch and pizza was on the menu for us.

We managed to make it back to the house before the streets started closing for the processionals so we counted it as a success.  We started packing up and getting things together.  We gave Pochi the donations we had put together for the various places we had visited.  I pray that it goes far and does much for these lovely people.

As we sat and talked, we could hear the drums coming down the street so we ran down to the corner to see the processional.  As we walked, I asked Hana what she thought of it all.  It truly is an Orthodox tradition, full of ritual.  The protestants don't generally pay much attention, but they indulged our curiosity.  We watched it go by as the people streamed in the direction of the drums.  Some of them were in traditional dress, but most were in a kind of traditional/modern hybrid.  We were told that you could tell that this area was home to a small church, as the people were not fully traditional.

No, Mr. US Immigration Officer, we were not (technically) on a farm during our stay.
Livestock just hung out outside our gate.

Raw coffee beans

It only lasted a few minutes.  The crowd followed behind the procession toward the final party spot.  We headed back home.  Tsige was preparing us coffee and popcorn before we had to leave.  We sat and visited as the coffee cooked.  It was delicious, as always, and the mood was somber.

Soon it was time to go to the airport.  David loaded our bags on the roof for the last time and we headed out.  It was dark and he had to be extra careful, as there were lots of people walking tonight, left overs from the celebrations.

Delightfully roasted coffee beans.

The airport was crowded.  Very crowded.  We had to make our way through security, immigration, and the gate.  We got into the waiting area at the tail-end of the boarding line.  Once on the plane we settled in for our ride.  It would be along one, but I was tired enough to sleep most of the way.  Next stop, Germany.

Travels home were uneventful.  We got home around 5pm on January 19 and parted ways.  It was a great trip.  Too much to tell all, but I hope I've done it justice here.