Review of our Ethiopia Trip...(PART ONE)


I said that I was going to review the trip and share some memories and some pictures over the next few days.

As we left for Ethiopia, I remember feeling so overwhelmed and emotional that I cried as we left Vancouver (I also cried as we left Addis, but that was because I felt so acutely that these little ones were leaving their culture and heritage) I looked down and saw the mountains fade away and could not quite believe that it was here...the day of flying to Africa to get Ayana and Moses.
Our trip was Looooong and boooorrriiinnggg (Akeelah and the Bee was a highlight...great movie) We landed first in Heathrow and then in Egypt..then onto Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
As the plane touched down in Addis, we were too tired to cheer but we all felt beyond excited.
Two lost bags and a stroller later, we were being met by Selemnah, the driver. What an awesome guy, he became a real friend that we were sorry to say goodbye to at the end. By this time we had been traveling for about 25 hours and it was 1am local time. We drove through rainy streets, past a couple of dead dogs (common sight on African roads) and found ourselves at the guest house.
Bed! Sleep!

The next morning we woke up and looked outside. What a beautiful place. We could hear the traffic , but couldn't see it as the guesthouse was set back by a couple of blocks from the main road. We had a little courtyard complete with huge iron gates that were manned by an old porter/guard. Vehicles drive up and honk their horn for admittance...only granted after the guard has peeped through a little view window in the gate. We felt very secure.
There were big palm trees and exotic looking bright blue and yellow birds flying around.
Selemnah had agreed to drive us around for a while in the afternoon and we got our first daylight glimpse of the city.
Traffic is insane, little kids (some look about three or four) dart into the middle of very busy roads trying to beg from the window every time you stop, donkeys run in the roads, goats are herded down the congested streets and cows slowly amble across intersections. Welcome to Addis!