Corindi to Addis Ababa

So we left, farewelling the critters and confidently leaving all in the capable hands of Lyn and Roger. We drove, we farewelled the offspring, dropped Rosie off at her holiday abode, sent Col flying back to Coffs for the forgotten credit cards and finally at 3am, schmoozed into the limo for the trip to the airport. Once on board our Emirates flight, we showed great restraint and delayed a little before the first celebratory glass of wine, but soon caved in, figuring that the sun was over the yard arm somewhere in the world.

Next we flew, flew then flew some more. Stopped off briefly at Dubai to buy a watch and practise queuing, before continuing to Addis.

Bolt straight off the plane they said. Go as fast as you can to the Visa counter they said. Sadly, this advice was given to many many people and they all had the ‘fast bolt’ down to a finer art than the Aussies. Except of course for Pappa Bear, the be-robed gentleman wearing the cylindrical hat, carrying a walking stick and exuding importance – he walked straight to the head of the queue! I managed quite a number of games of solitaire while waiting to be shunted from counter to counter in pursuit of the all elusive visa sticker and stamp.

Sweet Elsa meanwhile, had waited patiently outside for far too long, bearing her ‘Bronwyn and Colin’ sign. Finally, after a 26 hour commute, we loaded up all our stuff and were transported in this new and exotic city, over roads and not so much roads to our destination for a couple of nights. It was late, yet we were welcomed warmly at Jazly B&B with supper and a wondrously comfortable bed. Zzzzzzzzzzzz….

Colin, in traditional form, walked many blocks early the next morning while I continued the zzzzzzzzzzzz. He was able to study and photograph the scaffolding and building works unhindered during this time and figure out how to navigate to and from the B&B. Second shift, I joined him on a jaunt to find money and food and try to work out how to cross the road without dying – three goals all ably achieved.

Then, there was Elsa again – smiling through her influenza to show us a bit of Addis. Up, up up to the top of a very big hill for a trek around an old church and a museum – once again, the ‘pile of bricks’ ho hum factor featured for me, but Col was delighted by the architecture and innovative building methods. The cats were a bit scrawny but the school kids both cheeky and handsome. Traditional dinner with traditional music followed to end a great start to our adventures in this fascinating place.