We arrived back in Addis yesterday afternoon among a steam of soot-spewing trucks in a traffic jam. When I first arrived I didn’t realize how poluted the air is here, but I guess it was fresh compared to Cairo.
I wasn’t feeling well last night but woke up refreshed and after a nice (hot!) shower my Omo Valley travel mates and I left for some shopping. We started at the merkato, which had little to offer but they both bought clay coffee sets. Then I sat back and watched as they raced around town buying as much as they could carry. I didn’t buy anything but did fall in love with the wooden chairs here. In any case I have an idea of what the prices are and what’s available. I might pick up something before I leave the country but I just can’t fit anything into my bag. I might have to start throwing away clothes… my Indian-made shirts are starting to fall apart anyway.
Down in the Omo Valley I bought a small carved gourd container and a Hamer headrest at the Dimeka market and a clay Mursi lip plate in Jinka. They won’t fit in my bag either. Sometimes I think that I shouldn’t buy anything but the things here are so amazing that it’s hard to resist. Everything, including the chairs, are a fraction of what they would cost at home even after shipping.
Amongst the shopping frenzy we squeezed in The National Museum to see Lucy’s bones and had a tour around the famous church which I promptly forgot the name of. The church itsel wasn’t interesting but the guide gave a demonstration of the singing and instruments used.
My two travelmates are flying up North tomorrow so I will once again be on my own. You know I’m heading straight for the Tex-Mex resturaunt. For someone who doesn’t like to experiment with food I’ve eaten a lot of Ethiopian food so far. Last night we went to a great Ethiopian resturaunt and I actually like the fasting shinto I ordered. But I admit, injera still leaves a sour taste in my mouth.
Before Easter it was no problem—Orthodox Christians were fasting for 55 days so I got vegetarian food. I’m not a vegetarian but I don’t eat nearly as much meat abroad. It’s usually tough or fatty or sitting out in the sun. In Ethiopia’s case much of it is served raw. Unfortunately, after Easter they get a 14-day free pass to eat as much animal products as they like so many resturaunts don’t serve the “fasting food” on Wednesdays and Fridays like usual. Easter morning we were told we would be served meat and were presented with a plate full of plain roasted meat, and only meat. I can’t say I ate much of it.
Once I feel rested I will head North to start “the historical circuit.” I plan to catch a bus to Bahir Dar first to see the monasteries around Lake Tana. You can imagine my frustration that the best ones are off limits to women. The internet connections are slow here so I’m afraid that uploading photos might not be possible until I reach Nairobi but I will see what I can do.
2 responses to “Shopping in Addis”
Cool updates.
I have to admit I know almost nothing about Ethiopia. I did eat at an ethipian restaurant once; the chicken was bright red.
I didn’t either. It’s surprising that it’s so unknown to tourists because it has a lot of history and sites to see.