Last night was a great way to end an
amazing week. We all went to a traditional Abyssinian restaurant for dinner, which
was a buffet with a wide variety of the regional cuisine (including some cow
intestine!). It was a brilliant night with a great atmosphere, due to the
fantastic live music and dancing. Some of us were even dragged up to dance on
stage, much to everyone else’s amusement. The dancers were brilliant and danced
for three hours straight in costumes (and monkey hair wigs which we got to try
on) that helped tell the story, and it was great to see some Ethiopian culture.
We got a WHOLE 15 minutes extra sleep this
morning, then we headed out to visit AHISDO, the other project that CRED supports
in Addis Ababa. It’s a community charity that supports mainly the children and
elderly people in the area. They have
many facilities including the biggest youth centre in Addis, that even had a
Playstation. We then saw the young children’s daycare, which was where the team
trip was based last year. They kindly gave us a traditional meal and coffee
ceremony, with popcorn, which we weren’t expecting. Tibebu then presented Helen
with a photo of some of the people who benefited from the trip last summer.
After a group photo, we headed drove through the Mecarto, a huge outdoor market
that seems to stretch for miles.
Once we’d finally driven through the Mercato
we had a chance to buy some traditional Ethiopian coffee in a very fancy
shopping centre. While we were in there it started pouring down with rain, and
we left to go to a café to get warm drinks, chips, burgers, cake etc (not all
of those per person!).
We then had some time at the craft market,
spending some of our birr, and discovering that Cammie is a natural when it
comes to bartering prices down!
Back to the hotel to drop off our shopping
and have a quick conflabulation (Ani’s new English word of the day!) about
whether to try again for a swim at the Hilton. Despite the less than brilliant
weather it was a clear majority vote to go there, and so that is where we are
now.
PS Bethany would like her mum to comment J
PPS Happy 13th birthday for
tomorrow to Eleanor Briddock with love from Heather
8 comments:
It's very hot on the beach in Hove - lovely swim! Your trip looks amazing. Don't drink too much coffee - you know you won't sleep! See you Monday - missing you, much love from us all. Phil, Paula and the little Ritchies. xxxx
Looking forward to having Scarlet home - missing you!
Hi everyone. Your evening at the restaurant looks like a lot of fun and hope you enjoyed trying more of the local food. If you've developed a taste for intestines then try tripe when you get back home! Seems strange to see you all wearing so many clothes when we are sweltering here.
All the people you've met sound so open,welcoming and kind even though they have so little to share. A lovely people.
Eleanor send thanks for the birthday wishes and we all wish you all a very special final day and a safe journey home. With lots of love, xxx
Thanks again for the wonderfull blog and pictures. It looks as though you will all have some superb memories to treasure. Have a safe trip all and looking forward to seeing you on Monday.
Simon and Jemma Bellm
Once again really good to see what you have all been doing. Sounds like you have had a really good day. Enjoy your last day tomorrow ...make the most of it. Can't wait to see you on Monday evening.....and hear all about the last week. Have a safe journey home, looking forward to seeing you, with lots of love xxxxxx
Sounds like you're all having an incredible time. Can't wait until you get back to tell us all about it.
I'll whip up a nice dinner of cow intestines and popcorn for you, to celebrate.
Scarlet's Dad
Hope you had some great chill out time today .I imagine that tomorrow is going to be another emotional day for you so just wanted to remind you how much we are looking forward to seeing you .. ( and all your dirty washing !) Have a safe and fun journey home .
Marianne and family
Xxxx
That is the biggest bowl of popcorn I have ever seen! What an amazing adventure = safe trip home lovely Cammie
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