Where should I even start this story? I think it will take me the next 2 days to fill in the last week since I have seen a computer, but lets do this daily eh?
So...after I updated last Dani and I went to eat dinner and withdraw money from the bank. We walked through the Merkato in Addis Ababa, the largest outdoor market in Africa. No one really knows the borders of the market, it is just kind of a sprawl. It is also considered one of the most dangerous places to be. But we got through ok! Maybe it was because Dani had all our important things under her coat making her look pregnant...in 80 degree heat...that people figured we were just crazy tourists and not worth bothering. I have no idea, but the only interesting thing that happened there was someone tried to grab/steal the empty water bottle Dani was carrying. Kind of sad really, we have no good merkato stories.Oh we did see one boy carry about 20 foam matresses on his head! And walked through blocks of the same items...its set up in sections (if you can call it that) such as recycling, phone parts, plastic containers, baskets, and anything else you can think of. Only you can never get through it all because its simply too big. I believe there are some stalls way in there that dont see a customer all day, but they dont seem to mind. There are also many people on the sidewalk with scales so that you can see how much you weigh. Now this is interesing...there are so many people with scales and not a chubby person in the country (except maybe the farenji tourists) so how can they make money? Goes against supply and demand, no? How many times a day do you want to check your weight while walking down the street and just wish there was someone there with a scale? Well in Ethiopia you wouldnt have that problem!
I saw a few kids playing ball on the side of the road...more like kicking a block of old rags around, but i decided to join them anyway. they found it very amusing that i would want to play with them, and so did the hundred or so people who crowded around laughing! ahhh
Walking back in the direction of the hotel I picked up a piece of bread for lunch for 5 US cents. We passed Hope Enterprises, a great organization helping to feed the city's poor. I bought 16 meal tickets for 8 birr, about 80 cents for 16 meals! I then gave them out on the street where they were much sought after. A great idea, as the people who refuse them must not be hungry enough (and several did), and those who want the tickets can go get a free meal. Sounds good to me.
We got to an internet place but for some reason they had no enectricity to their computers, only the phone, so I called my mom but then the phone cut off after 2 minutes! sorry mom!
Got some mango drinks at a local joint, now my favorite thing in Ethiopia. My rastifarian (hustler) friend showed us a place that sells mango for 6 birr (50 cents) rather than 14 birr (over 1 dollar) which we had been paying. Thanks dude! If you dont know about the rastifarians you should read about them...interesting people.He took us to his friends place where we hired a jeep for the next day to Bahir Dar for 170 birr. I know he makes a comission and we paid way too much, but I didnt have the energy to do anything else. And we got picked up from the hotel so it was nice. The ride is the story for tomorrow! I had to pay half for a down payment, very sticky if you ask me...I dont like paying before riding, but I got a receipt so what can I say. He asked me for money (as everyone here does) and I told him I would think about it for when I get back. Thats also a story for later!
Back in the hotel I took a shower with the head falling over on me twice. at least it was hot water. Did some laundry and off to bed. Early start tomorrow!!! Daily total: 107 birr or about 9 USD!!!!
