I started the weekend with much needed lie in, then went to Egypt street to check out the shops and cafes. They weren’t bad, with some shops selling western brands that were presumably last season and had been bought by the shop keeper by the bundle. They had some nice stuff, including a ted baker dress, that unfortunately was about 6 inches too long. Nothing new there then!
I then went to Zoma museum, which is a rubbish dump that had been cleared and turned into tropical garden, small farm, and school with a couple of cafes. They grew herbs, vegetables and had cows ( the fattest cows in Ethiopia), chickens and a family of tortoises. It as idyllic, and I spent a couple of hours wandering around it, admiring the palms, flowers and buildings sculpted out of mud and covered with intricate patterns. I stopped for a ‘ginger water’ (never again) which nearly blew my head off, and basked in the sunshine. It was obviously the place to go on a date – lots of loved up Ethiopians were canoodling in the sun. It was so trendy my ginger water came in a jam jar!
It was due to get dark in an hour or so, so I ordered a Ride taxi. He then ran me asking me where I was. I replied – Zoma museum, look at your map. He didn’t know where it was. I said look at your map, he said, what else is it near, I replied ‘go up Guinea-Bissau street and turn left at commercial bank’. To cut a long story short, he eventually arrived, rather pissed off he had driven so far to get me. I was confused by the whole scenario, I don’t understand why with a map based app the taxi drivers continually ring you to ask where you are. I asked one of the doctors, apparently Ethiopians can’t read maps (very well). Apparently they don’t learn it at school. This coupled with no one knowing road names makes for a very frustrating time!
I went to world leprosy day on Sunday. It was supposed to be on Saturday, but the government postponed it. No idea why! We went to a very swish hotel (they had a machine that polishes your shoes in the hallway) and sat through several hours of speeches in Amharic (whoo! Not) but then were treated to a very nice free buffet. They had also invited lots of leprosy patients, some of whom I recognised from the clinic, all in their best clothes. It was lovely to see them in a social setting, looking cheery and enjoying the food!
Anna’s adventures 