First week in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Q: What are tibs? 

A: Sauteed chunks of strips of Poultry, Lamb, or Beef...think fajitas drenched with ghee (clarified butter). 

If your body isn't accustomed to such delicacies, chances are good that your body will reject it. Let's use Ana for example, back in February during our first visit to Addis she ate a bowl of tibs for lunch and consequences followed. In Egypt we call it Mummy's Tummy, my dad calls it Montezuma's Revenge, other's might refer to it as traveler's tummy. You get the idea. 

We've been in Addis for a week and during that time we've spent the majority of our waking hours with out new cohort. The admin. has been keeping us busy with official and social activities. There has been a lack in downtime, internet, and power. Daily rains, lots of exhaust, and green...a mixed bag for sure.   

The living room of our new digs, got a sweet 3-bedroom apartment. Maybe one day our shipment with our furnishings will arrive-was told this morning that US Customs is holding our container. Great. But that shouldn't keep you from coming to visit us.  

Good news is that there are plenty of beer choices (and cheap), found two that are drinkable. Most are lager-style. At least the labels look cool. 

Tej is an Ethiopian honey wine. Pretty neat that you get a pre-hangover after one glass.

Teacher orientation at our new school has been a blast. There was some sort of dinner event each evening. One of my favorite was the cultural restaurant. Great food, music, and dance show. 

The damage done.

Singing the hits. 

Some of the staff and administration were pulled up on stage to exercise their inner demons. 

Orthodox church. Ethiopia religion breakdown: about 60% Chirsitian, 30% Muslim, 10% into spirits (think paganism).

We thankfully avoided the big downpour during our hike around Mount Entoto. 

Yup, a 4 x 4 is a good idea to explore Ethiopia's hidden gems.

Mount Entoto overlooks Addis Ababa on the way up, but I didn't get any shots that were worth a damn. Here you have green at the top.

The area is densely covered by eucalyptus trees.

We encounter many people and donkeys transporting wood down the mountain.

Looking up.

Bone.

The boy was triyng to wake up a den of hyenas below. The sound from the whip he cracked echoed through the valley, it sounded like gun shots. 

Almost 12,000 feet above sea level (3700 meters). 

The climb up was literally breathtaking. The 4 km round trip was exhausting being a newbie to the altitude. 

Farms in the valley.

There is not much overgrowth as the livestock in this country do an excellent job of cutting the lawn. 

Food.

The supermarket across from where we live. Rumor has it when a donkey, horse, etc. becomes useless to the owner, he will simply let it roam free. 

There is a hill behind our apartment excellent for exploring.

The farmland above where we live. 

Addis continues to grow. 

Several local schools have Teletubbies painted on their walls and doors. What does this mean?  

The path home.

New construction. 

Ryan our neighbor likes to play slug-bug as there are plenty of VW Bugs in Addis. 

Our apartment on a grey and rainy day. 

Pair with: Chinese food, tripe, seafood, and quiche, my kind of boxed wine.

If your drinking a red wine with your omeletts then you might have a slight drinking problem.