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Addis Ababa National Museum: Chinese scroll hanging on a wall in the museum annex. I snapped the picture to record the aphorism at the top.


Addis Ababa National Museum: Sign at the entrance to the national museum where the bones of "Lucy" are maintained on display.


Addis Ababa National Museum: Sculpture in the garden outside the entrance to the national museum where the bones of "Lucy" are maintained on display.


Addis Ababa National Museum: Directory showing contents of the museum standing at the entrance to the museum.


Addis Ababa National Museum: Painting hanging on a wall in the museum.


Addis Ababa National Museum: Sculpture of one of the national heroes on display in the museum where the bones of "Lucy" are maintained on display.


Addis Ababa National Museum: This Ford automobile is the first car to find its way into the country.


Addis Ababa National Museum: Sculpture of Emperor Haile Selassie in the garden outside the entrance to the Lucy Restaurant on the grounds of the national museum where the bones of "Lucy" are on display.


Addis Ababa National Museum: Sculpture of Emperor Haile Selassie in the garden outside the entrance to the Lucy Restaurant on the grounds of the National Museum where the bones of "Lucy" are on display.


Addis Ababa National Museum: Part of the lavishly landscaped garden that serves diners at the Lucy Restaurant on the grounds of the national museum where the bones of "Lucy" are maintained on display.


Addis Ababa 2012: Lucy Special Combo - $7.50 lunch in the Lucy restaurant on the grounds of the National Museum where the remains of "LUCY" are housed. The lunch disappointed, but the place filled quickly with organized tour groups that make this an interesting stop on the tour.


Addis Ababa National Museum: Leaving the museum one runs into this side entrance to the Lucy Restaurant on the grounds of the national museum where the bones of "Lucy" are maintained on display.


Addis Ababa National Museum: This is the main entrance to the Lucy Restaurant on the grounds of the national museum where the bones of "Lucy" are maintained on display.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: Minaret seen in a neighborhood in the outskirts of the city, but no mosque in sight.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: Activity around the minibus station near the main train depot downtown.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: Ethiopia-Cuba Friendship Memorial Park Monument in downtown Addis.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: Book and magazine display on downtown street in the center of town.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: People enjoying tea or coffee in one of the many sidewalk cafes along the covered walkway in the center of town.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia Animal Market: On the way back to the hotel from the animal market I pass this group of produce sellers including some selling bundles of holiday grass needed for the coffee ceremony.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia Animal Market: This close to Ethiopian Christmas (January 7) everyone is selling or buying bundles of long green grass cuttings required for the festive coffee celebrations.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia Animal Market: Many people protect their heads and faces from the blazing sun. This guy makes a jacket serve the purpose.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia Animal Market: It is Ethiopian Christmas day and pelts from all the thousands of goats slaughtered for the annual feast are already being collected for sale to the tanneries. The size of the pelt piles grow by the hour until the collection truck arrives to take them away.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia Animal Market: It is Ethiopian Christmas day and this pelt dealer adds one more skin to his growing pile.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia Animal Market: After Christmas dinner goat pelts are being collected by many dealers in this area near the upscale hotels.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia Animal Market: The dealer caught me photographing his booty and snarled his command to stop taking pictures! Makes me wonder if there is something illegal going on here.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia Animal Market: Shortly after grabbing this clandestine photograph a pickup truck already half full of wet pelts arrived and several guys tossed the limp skins into the cargo bed.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: People enjoying tea or coffee in one of the many sidewalk cafes along the covered walkway in the center of town.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: Plaque identifying the Haile Selassie Monument in downtown Addis.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: Ethiopia-Cuba Friendship Memorial Park Monument in downtown Addis.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: Close-up of the Ethiopia-Cuba Friendship Memorial Park Monument in downtown Addis.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: Another close-up of the Ethiopia-Cuba Friendship Memorial Park Monument in downtown Addis.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: Another close-up of the Ethiopia-Cuba Friendship Memorial Park Monument in downtown Addis.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: Unique silhouette section of the Ethiopia-Cuba Friendship Memorial Park Monument in downtown Addis.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: Ethiopia-Cuba Friendship Memorial Park Monument in downtown Addis.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: Ethiopia-Cuba Friendship Memorial Park Monument in downtown Addis.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: Ethiopia-Cuba Friendship Memorial Park Monument in downtown Addis.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: Ethiopia-Cuba Friendship Memorial Park Monument in downtown Addis from another angle.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: Used electronics parts store; Ethiopian style.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: Donkey being led down the middle of the traffic clogged street in the middle of the Grand Market. When I started to take the picture more of the beast showed and the beggar had not entered the frame. So much for bad timing.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: After talking with the store owner I snapped a picture of the milling machines he sells. Bush? "I hate him!" was his unequivocal response. "How about Obama?" I asked. "Don't like him much either; he doesn't have any power to do the things he said he would do." this from a Muslim Ethiopian. Wow!


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: One of the hoard of beggars working the area around the mosques in the Grand Market this Friday when all Muslims are required to give to the poor. Most of the donations I saw were very small denomination coins: less than a cent to the largest amount of about six cents, but most people approached by a beggar gave something.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: Enterprising housewives grow beautiful produce and sell it under the shady trees down every street in the city. Shoppers need not walk far to find a carrot for tonight's soup.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: Looking away from the main road back to the hotel I spotted this sea of tin roofs protecting dwellings in one of the residential areas.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: Looking down into the "pit" where anyone and everyone could spread out their offerings without fear of the cops disrupting their efforts. I saw one young woman have her shawl piled high with carrots scattered ruthlessly by a policeman's stick and sharp words. I presume he was protecting the established merchants from easy competition.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: For the longest time I missed these obscure bus stop signs. The numbers refer to bus routes that stop here, but not all stops have even these nearly invisible designations.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia Animal Market: On the way back to the hotel from the animal market I spot people selling bundles of grass. Curious about the use of the stuff I learned it is scattered around the floor of any space used in the performance of the Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony I've seen performed in many places including hotels and the airport departure lounge.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia Animal Market: On the way back to the hotel from the animal market I spot people selling bundles of grass. Curious about the use of the stuff I learned it is scattered around the floor of any space used in the performance of the Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony I've seen performed in many places including hotels and the airport departure lounge.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia Animal Market: Many people protect their heads and faces from the blazing sun. This guy makes a jacket serve the purpose.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia Animal Market: It is Ethiopian Christmas day and pelts from all the thousands of goats slaughtered for the annual feast are already being collected for sale to the tanneries. The size of the pelt piles grow by the hour until the collection truck arrives to take them away.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: Shopping malls like this one pop up down alleyways along main streets throughout the city.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: I saw this bilingual sign for a business management service and thought of the famous Rosetta Stone. When the store owner saw my interest in his sign he came out and wiped the covering glass clean for my photo and then showed interest in my camera. So...


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: This is the manager of the business management service displaying the bilingual sign I photographed. He took an interest in my photographic activities and I grabbed a sly photo.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: The hotel manager drove me out to see the operation of a highly acclaimed traditional healer... who was out. This is the entrance to his home directly across from the entrance to his "offices" down a nondescript alleyway.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: The hotel manager drove me out to see the operation of a highly acclaimed traditional healer... who was out. This is the entrance to his "offices" directly across from the entrance to his home down a nondescript alleyway.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: Storage containers for medicinal preparations in the attached shed next to the doctor's office. The hotel manager drove me out to see the operation of this highly acclaimed traditional healer... who was out.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: Storage containers for medicinal preparations in the attached shed next to the doctor's office. The hotel manager drove me out to see the operation of this highly acclaimed traditional healer... who was out.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: Mural depicting the Italian War in which the doctor distinguished himself as a hero adding to his reputation as a healer. Everyone we stopped on the way to his offices knew of the guy and directed us to the compound we were looking for.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: Part of the waiting rooms in the doctor's compound. The hotel manager drove me out to see the operation of this highly acclaimed traditional healer... who was out.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: Part of the waiting rooms in the doctor's compound. The Jupiter Hotel manager drove me out to see the operation of this highly acclaimed traditional healer... who was out.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: In the courtyard of the healer's treatment area I spotted these herbs drying in the sun.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: This is Antro Korajlan, Deputy Mgr of the Jupiter Hotel where I stayed most of my time in the city. He is inspecting products on display in a traditional medicine pharmacy. Actually, most of the products were teas, herbs and aroma therapy products.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: Products on display in a traditional medicine pharmacy. Actually, most of the products were teas, herbs and aroma therapy products.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: Products on display in a traditional medicine pharmacy. Actually, most of the products were teas, herbs and aroma therapy products. However, one must not forget that throughout Ethiopia shops like this one serve as the principle source of medical treatment preparations!


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: This photo is a reminder that there are many Christian evangelical churches in Addis Ababa, this sign designating the location of one.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: December 17 the faithful Ethiopian Orthodox observe Epiphany, the time when Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist according to Biblical accounts. This large group of children dressed in white march while chanting the liturgy prescribed for the holy day.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: December 17 the faithful Ethiopian Orthodox observe Epiphany, the time when Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist according to Biblical accounts. The banner being held by the children announce the church affiliations of the kids.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: Toothbrush seller on the street making a sale to a gentleman in a suit. Here, short sticks are chewed until the frayed ends can be used to clean teeth.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: December 17 the faithful Ethiopian Orthodox observe Epiphany. There must be a couple hundred school age children in this bunch, all clapping and chanting in unison.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: Full view of the mosaic depicting the stoning of Saint Stephen over the main door into the St. Stephen Church near the UN Organization for African Unity headquarters.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: Plaque hanging on an exterior wall of the St. Stephen Church near the UN Organization for African Unity headquarters.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: Mosaic wall decoration around the main door into the St. Stephen Church near the UN Organization for African Unity headquarters.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: Scattered green grass remains on the marble entry floor in front of the St. Stephen Church entrance.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: Donation boxes like this one can be seen at every point of interest around the grounds of the St. Stephen Church.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: One of the shrines venerated on the grounds of the Saint Stephen Church near the UN Organization for African Unity headquarters.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: One of the shrines being venerated by visitors to the Saint Stephen Church near the UN Organization for African Unity headquarters.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: Looking down the portico that runs across the front of the St. Stephen Church entrance I see one of the church elders and a nun further back in the garden.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: Green grass scattered along the walkway in the front of the Saint Stephen Church near the UN Organization for African Unity headquarters. It is a symbol of hope and renewal.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: Bell tower rises to the south of the main St. Stephen Church entrance.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: These nuns wander the grounds of the church among many parishioners visiting the Saint Stephen Church near the UN Organization for African Unity headquarters.

SmallBook9 January 2012

 

Hello from Addis Ababa Ethiopia

On this auxiliary page are all the rest of the huge number of photographs taken while exploring the Ethiopian capital city of Addis Ababa.

Two things will always remind me of Ethiopia: flies and coffee. The flies here attack incessantly and seem to focus on the eyes, corners of the mouth and nostrils. As soon as I brush them away from one spot they are back buzzing around a different place. Escaping inside a building or even its shade usually provides relief; bright sunlight exacerbates the problem. I now understand better all the scenes we see on TV with tiny emaciated children pretty much ignoring the little pests. Eventually people must reach a point where they understand visits by flies are inevitable and just let the little beasties feed. Like a horse's tail, my hands are constantly brushing over my face to discourage landings on my sensitive parts... excerpted from and continued on the main Addis Ababa postcard page.

 

 

 

 


Addis Ababa National Museum: Details of the Chinese scroll hanging on a wall in the museum annex. I took the photo to remember the sentiment recorded at the top.


Addis Ababa National Museum: Art hanging on a wall in the museum.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia Animal Market: Unexpectedly I came upon this huge mob of people and animals loitering in a level field on the way back to the hotel. It turned out to be the year's largest weekly animal market as the following day would be the Ethiopian Christmas day when families traditionally have great meat feasts. These are Christmas dinners on the hoof.

 


Addis Ababa Ethiopia Animal Market: Buyers and sellers haggle over prices during the year's largest weekly animal market as the following day would be the Ethiopian Christmas day when families traditionally have great meat feasts.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia Animal Market: Satisfied with their shopping efforts, buyers leave the year's largest animal market: some empty handed, but many with their Christmas dinner in hand. Some sheep and goats are carried home on the shoulders of the buyer, others are "wheeled" home by forcing the animal to walk on their forelegs while being held up by their rear legs: like a wheelbarrow!


Addis Ababa Ethiopia Animal Market: Eager buyers and anxious sellers negotiate in a level field on the way back to the hotel. It is the year's largest weekly animal market as the following day will be the Ethiopian Christmas day when families traditionally have great meat feasts.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia Animal Market: Eager buyers and anxious sellers negotiate in a level field on the way back to the hotel. It is the year's largest weekly animal market as the following day will be the Ethiopian Christmas day when families traditionally have great meat feasts.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia Animal Market: Lots of kids help parents. It is the year's largest weekly animal market as the following day will be the Ethiopian Christmas day when families traditionally feast on goat meat and mutton.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia Animal Market: A goat is led to it's doom by a guy who's family will have a feast tomorrow.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia Animal Market: Buyers leave the year's largest animal market with their Christmas dinner in hand. Notice the grin of satisfaction on the guy carrying his purchase across his shoulders.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia Animal Market: On the way back to the hotel from the animal market I spot people selling bundles of grass. Curious about the use of the stuff I learned it is scattered around the floor of any space used in the performance of the Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony I've seen performed in many places including hotels and the airport departure lounge.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia Animal Market: As I tried to take a picture of people selling bundles of grass these two chaps bolted in front of my camera.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: Ethiopia-Cuba Friendship Memorial Park Monument in downtown Addis.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: Close-up of a section of the Ethiopia-Cuba Friendship Memorial Park Monument in downtown Addis.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: Close-up of another section of the Ethiopia-Cuba Friendship Memorial Park Monument in downtown Addis.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: Close-up of another section of the Ethiopia-Cuba Friendship Memorial Park Monument in downtown Addis.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: Another part of the Ethiopia-Cuba Friendship Memorial Park Monument in downtown Addis.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: Close-up of a section of the Ethiopia-Cuba Friendship Memorial Park Monument in downtown Addis.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: Plaque marking the Ethiopia-Cuba Friendship Memorial Park Monument in downtown Addis.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: Mortar Monument erected in the middle of a traffic circle in downtown Addis.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: Stacked bags of charcoal seen in one of the neighborhoods in the outskirts of the city during one of my long walks.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: Many of the streets are paved with these uneven flat stones in the neighborhoods around the city center.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: I found it interesting that a small country like Ethiopia would have such an organization. It makes me wonder what might be the source of the "radiation," natural or man made? As a newly graduated UCB physicist at N.O.T.S. one of my jobs involved radiation safety aboard Naval vessels.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: I took this picture to show the construction techniques traditionally used in building houses here.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: Another picture to show the construction techniques traditionally used in building houses here.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: Flags of all the nations which are a part of the United Nations Organization of African Unity.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: This photo was taken during a high mass being broadcast over loud speakers to a congregation scattered around the grounds. At certain points in the service some worshipers touched their foreheads to the ground like Muslims do during their services.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: I passed this basket weaving craftsman working near a stand of bamboo along the river near my hotel.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: Chili peppers drying in the sun on one of the sidewalks in downtown Addis.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: It seemed like every other structure was under construction throughout the city. This example is in the middle of the old Grand Market, the "Merkato" where I spent a morning before walking the #39 bus route back to the hotel.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia:Minibuses and taxis carry cargo on their roofs as well as passengers. This shot is in the middle of the Merkato, grand market.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: As I tried to snap a picture of the vender the guy in the overcoat stepped in the way, but that just gave the other people another reason to see what I was doing.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: On a street corner in the middle of the unbelievably busy shopping streets in the middle of the Merkato I spotted these cute kids "protecting" the sleeping body of their mother... I presume.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: On a street corner in the middle of the unbelievably busy shopping streets in the middle of the Merkato I spotted these cute kids "protecting" the sleeping body of their mother... I presume.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: Venders carrying their wares on their heads and never miss an opportunity to show off their stuff... even to people struggling to get their cars parked in cramped quarters.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: Some of the street venders clogging the sidewalks throughout the huge grand market, the Merkato.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: Every square centimeter of sitting or standing space is occupied by someone selling or buying something most of the day, no matter what the weather and it is hot most of the time.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: Impromptu produce markets like this spring up where ever there is an empty sidewalk: a shady spot is a premium spot.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: Shopping mall selling just about anything you might want, Ethiopian style in the low rent district.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: Another view of the shopping mall selling just about anything you might want. Large corner spaces with a patch of shade are premium locations downtown.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: Unemployment rates are astronomical in Ethiopia so there are a lot of shoe shine "boys" of all ages. Shines go for six to twelve cents, unless your skin is white and then the sky is the limit. The same strategy goes for cab rides, but that is not so unusual anywhere in the world.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: Herbal or spice seller; I'm not sure. This is a very common sight throughout the city.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: Wheelbarrow, home grown style. The "wheels" are a pair of roller barrings scrounged from some discarded equipment, I presume; very resourceful. I saw quite a few of these contraptions in use throughout the city. Of course, there are also plenty of real wheelbarrows in use as well, but none cheaper to acquire than these.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: Tiff drying in the sun on a sidewalk near the hotel. Tiff, like barley is one of the staple foods of rural Ethiopia. A spongy crape-like bread called Injera is made from the flower.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: Passengers buying tickets from the conductor before entering the front door of the bus.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: All that is visible of the Menelik Mausoleum which I visited with Sanna, a Dutch Red Cross attorney stationed in Addis Ababa. The place turned out to be a tourist trap with an "entry fee" of 100 Birr demanded on exit! Sanna rationalized the experience a consequence of all the poor people in the country. I felt less charitable.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: Toothbrush seller on the street making a sale to a gentleman in a suit. Here, short sticks are chewed until the frayed ends can be used to clean teeth.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: Typical display of African toothbrushes seen throughout the continent. These short sticks are chewed until the frayed ends can be used to clean teeth.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: This photo is a reminder that the main oil company in Ethiopia seems to be OiLybia.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: This is the front of the St. Stevens Church near the UN Organization for African Unity headquarters. I visited it several times after learning the priest performed healing sessions several times a month... using Holy Water: both drinking and dunking. Many stories confirm those who believe may be healed of a diverse range of afflictions... most likely by their own minds!


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: This is the south side of the Saint Stephen Church near the UN Organization for African Unity headquarters. I visited it several times after learning the priest performed healing sessions several times a month.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: One of the parishioners seen on the grounds of the Saint Stephen Church near the UN Organization for African Unity headquarters.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: Some of the parishioners seen on the grounds of the Saint Stephen Church near the UN Organization for African Unity headquarters. Different costumes; different ethnicities, but church ladies having much in common with their counterparts in other traditions.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: Closer view of the main subject matter in the mosaic depicting the stoning of Saint Stephen over the main door into the St. Stephen Church near the UN Organization for African Unity headquarters.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: At the Menelik Mausoleum Sanna befriends a group of the youthful touts herding naive tourists into the trap. We parted ways when she informed me the little hustlers had accepted her offer of CocaCola refreshments. My own reactions to their devious behavior made it impossible for me to feel charitable, something I continue to lament in retrospect.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: One of the parishioners seen on the grounds of the Saint Stephen Church near the UN Organization for African Unity headquarters. Many people in their "Sunday suits" loiter about the grounds of the church, some obviously praying while others seemed to be doing the Ethiopian equivalent of meditation.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: Green grass scattered on the walkway in the front of the Saint Stephen Church near the UN Organization for African Unity headquarters. It is a symbol of hope and renewal.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: Another of the parishioners seen on the grounds of the Saint Stephen Church near the UN Organization for African Unity headquarters. This lady waits near the alcove where the healing sessions take place, though nothing seemed to be happening while I studied the facility.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: These two kids decided to become my volunteer guides while on the grounds of the St. Stephen Church near the UN Organization for African Unity headquarters. While eager to be near the foreigner, these kids behaved more like well trained docents than typical undisciplined adolescents.

 

End

 



Addis Ababa Ethiopia: Map of Africa showing the location of Ethiopia with Eritrea to the north and Somalia to the east.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: Reception desk in the 4 star $100 Jupiter Hotel where I have never seen so many sincerely smiling faces. Every staff member behind the desk clearly had been trained to make every guest feel welcome. The manager told me he has instructed staff with guest contact to treat each of us like members of their own family... which they do.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: Painting hanging on the hall wall near my room in the Jupiter Hotel.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia Animal Market: Lots of kids help parents in a level field on the way back to the hotel. It is the year's largest weekly animal market as the following day will be the Ethiopian Christmas day when families traditionally have great meat feasts.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia Animal Market: A good many people leave the market area empty handed.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia Animal Market: Not everyone is anxious to go home.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: Entrance to the 4 star $100 Jupiter Hotel with $70 holiday rates which the manager extended for the duration of my stay in Addis Ababa. The new Radisson Blu opened this month on the property adjacent to the Jupiter Hotel.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: The desk in my room in the Jupiter Hotel where I spent a good deal of time working on "postcards" and processing the contents of my camera.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: View of the neighborhood surrounding the Intercontinental Hotel as seen from my eighth floor window.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: Entrance to the 4 star $100 Jupiter Hotel with $70 holiday rates which the manager extended for the duration of my stay in Addis Ababa. It is an excellent lodge where the staff attempts to offer five star service,,, and generally succeeds in my opinion. Internet connections suffered from server interruptions daily and swarms of beggars hounded me on most forays into the surrounding neighborhoods.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: My Acer Netbook is a principle means of working with the Internet at the desk in my room in the Jupiter Hotel. The tiny keyboard makes touch typing cramped and the touch pad is difficult to avoid touching and leads to frequent errors of text placement when inadvertently brushed during text entry.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: Welcome banner hanging in the lobby of the 4 star $100 Jupiter Hotel showing the reason my great $70 rate could not be extended and why all of the upscale hotels in Addis suddenly became fully booked during the Summit.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: One of the lounging areas inside the bar area of the four star Jupiter Hotel where I stayed most of my time in the city.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: Painting hanging on the lobby wall in the Jupiter Hotel: one of a series by the same artist.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: Sign pointing to the entrance to the $60 holiday rate Nigist Guest House in the building adjacent to the $170 Hotel Intercontinental which I used for my first night in the city out of desperation. The guest house offers studio apartments with hotel housekeeping services... but no breakfast... and the Internet WiFi and cable failed to work for both days I stayed there.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: Entrance to the $60 holiday rate Nigist Guest House in the building adjacent to the $170 Hotel Intercontinental which I used for my first night in the city out of desperation. The guest house is an excellent value and meets my minimum standards quality and cleanliness, but the Internet connection failed to work... probably the server and not the hotel's fault.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: View of the surrounding neighborhood from my eighth floor room in the Nigist Towers Guest House where I stayed a couple nights.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: That is the five star Intercontinental Hotel in the background surrounded by other structures still under construction. In the foreground is a flock of goats getting ready to rest for the night. Herders run their flocks all over the city without much regard for vehicular traffic which always seems to stop for the creatures.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia Animal Market: Herds of sheep and goats wandered the streets around the hotels as herders tried to sell their animals without going all the way up to the official market grounds. I watched as numerous sale transactions took place while I finished my lunch near all the activities.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia Animal Market: Herds of sheep and goats wandered the streets around the hotels as herders tried to sell their animals without going all the way up to the official market grounds. I watched as numerous sale transactions took place while I finished my lunch near all the activities.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia Animal Market: Herds of sheep and goats wandered the streets around the hotels as herders tried to sell their animals without going all the way up to the official market grounds. I watched as numerous sale transactions took place while I finished my lunch near all the activities.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia Animal Market: Herds of sheep and goats wandered the streets around the hotels as herders tried to sell their animals without going all the way up to the official market grounds. I watched as numerous sale transactions took place while I finished my lunch near all the activities.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia Animal Market: Herds of sheep and goats wandered the streets around the hotels as herders tried to sell their animals without going all the way up to the official market grounds. I watched as numerous sale transactions took place while I finished my lunch near all the activities.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia Animal Market: Herds of sheep and goats wandered the streets around the hotels as herders tried to sell their animals without going all the way up to the official market grounds. I watched as numerous sale transactions took place while I finished my lunch near all the activities.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia Animal Market: On the way up to the British Embassy behind which I had hoped to find the ruins of the Washa Mikael church, a rock-hewn church I spotted this makeshift street light. After giving up on finding the ruins in the mountains I headed back down toward the city and ran into the huge animal market where people were buying their Christmas dinners... on the hoof.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia Animal Market: On the way up to the British Embassy behind which I had hoped to find the ruins of the Washa Mikael rock-hewn church I spotted this barbed wire deterrent atop a high wall/. After giving up on finding the ruins in the mountains I headed back down toward the city and ran into the huge animal market where people were buying their Christmas dinners... on the hoof.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia Animal Market: Wandering the hills around the British Embassy I ran into the huge animal market where people were buying their Christmas dinners... on the hoof. These are some of the animals heading to the market.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia Animal Market: Wandering the hills around the British Embassy I ran into the huge animal market where people were buying their Christmas dinners... on the hoof. These are some of the animals heading to the market.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia Animal Market: Wandering the hills around the British Embassy I ran into the huge animal market where people were buying their Christmas dinners... on the hoof. These are some of the animals heading to the market.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia Animal Market: Wandering the hills around the British Embassy I ran into the huge animal market where people were buying their Christmas dinners... on the hoof. These are some of the animals heading to the market.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia Animal Market: Wandering the hills around the British Embassy looking for the unmarked path up to the Washa Mikael church ruins I attracted this group of small boys who seemed to be trying to help me find the church.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia Animal Market: After failing to find the Washa Mikael church ruins I headed back down the mountain and ran into this long flight of stone stairs, probably created to make it easy to reach the old church.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia Animal Market: After failing to find the Washa Mikael church ruins I headed back down the mountain and ran into this long flight of stone stairs, probably created to make it easy to reach the old church. One of the residents along the flight told me the church could be reached in about twenty minutes from this point, so I got pretty close to it.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia Animal Market: Most people buy sheep or goats, but I saw many cattle being offered as well.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia Animal Market: Eager buyers and anxious sellers negotiate in a level field on the way back to the hotel. It is the year's largest weekly animal market as the following day will be the Ethiopian Christmas day when families traditionally have great meat feasts.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia Animal Market: Satisfied with their shopping efforts, buyers leave the year's largest animal market: some empty handed, but many with their Christmas dinner in hand. Some sheep and goats are carried home on the shoulders of the buyer, others are "wheeled" home by forcing the animal to walk on their forelegs while being held up by their rear legs: like a wheelbarrow!


Addis Ababa Ethiopia Animal Market: Lots of kids help parents in a level field on the way back to the hotel. It is the year's largest weekly animal market as the following day will be the Ethiopian Christmas day when families traditionally have great meat feasts.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia Animal Market: This barber in his pink apron made me wonder if he might specialize in hair cuts for women.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia Animal Market: Unexpectedly I came upon this huge mob of people and animals loitering in a level field on the way back to the hotel. It turned out to be the year's largest weekly animal market as the following day would be the Ethiopian Christmas day when families traditionally have great meat feasts. These are people shopping for Christmas dinners on the hoof.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia Animal Market: As I leave the animal market grounds I discover this row of barber "shops." My curiosity provokes a reciprocal response from the barbers who beckon for me to come on in for a haircut.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia Animal Market: I stopped to watch this
tonsorial artist at work. Judging by the rapt attention of his audience his performance seems to be a popular spectator sport.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia Animal Market: Eager buyers and anxious sellers negotiate in a level field on the way back to the hotel. It is the year's largest weekly animal market as the following day will be the Ethiopian Christmas day when families traditionally have great meat feasts.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia Animal Market: Eager buyers and anxious sellers negotiate in a level field on the way back to the hotel. It is the year's largest weekly animal market as the following day will be the Ethiopian Christmas day when families traditionally have great meat feasts.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia Animal Market: Eager buyers and anxious sellers negotiate in a level field on the way back to the hotel. It is the year's largest weekly animal market as the following day will be the Ethiopian Christmas day when families traditionally have great meat feasts.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia Animal Market: Satisfied with their shopping efforts, buyers leave the year's largest animal market: some empty handed, but many with their Christmas dinner in hand. Some sheep and goats are carried home on the shoulders of the buyer, others are "wheeled" home by forcing the animal to walk on their forelegs while being held up by their rear legs: like a wheelbarrow!


Addis Ababa Ethiopia Animal Market: Satisfied with their shopping efforts, buyers leave the year's largest animal market: some empty handed, but many with their Christmas dinner in hand. Some sheep and goats are carried home on the shoulders of the buyer, others are "wheeled" home by forcing the animal to walk on their forelegs while being held up by their rear legs: like a wheelbarrow!


Addis Ababa Ethiopia Animal Market: Satisfied with their shopping efforts, buyers leave the year's largest animal market: some empty handed, but many with their Christmas dinner in hand. Some sheep and goats are carried home on the shoulders of the buyer, others are "wheeled" home by forcing the animal to walk on their forelegs while being held up by their rear legs: like a wheelbarrow!


Addis Ababa Ethiopia Animal Market: Buyers leave the year's largest animal market: some empty handed like this guy.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia Animal Market: No fancy dressers in this crowd of shoppers. Buying an animal is dirty business.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia Animal Market: Guy with an attitude among the steady stream of shoppers leaving the market grounds.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia Animal Market: While the market is mainly for livestock, other products like charcoal are also on offer as evidenced by this guy carrying the bulging sack on his head.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia Animal Market: Not many people in business suits are seen in the dusty fields of the animal market: this guy is an anomaly. Notice the sheep and goats being carried home on the shoulders of the buyer while the goat is being "wheeled" home like a wheelbarrow!


Addis Ababa Ethiopia Animal Market: Very dusty around the animal market; the guy in the suit covers his nose to escape breathing the dust.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia Animal Market: This young man struggles with his uncooperative load. This mode of transport must be pretty uncomfortable for the animals, too. Dad turns to shout some encouragement to his boys.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia Animal Market: Goats heading for... you know what. One becomes a wheel barrow; the other gets to ride to his last supper. I doubt either animal is all that happy about their life right now.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia Animal Market: Many men carry a cane, often used as arm rests across their shoulders behind their necks or to hold a bundle of belongings as they walk.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia Animal Market: This guy has a bag of charcoal on his head, the preferred way to carry anything heavy.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia Animal Market: I crouch behind this pile of hay bales to more leisurely watch the parade of goat shoppers gallop by on their way home to prepare for the feast tomorrow.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia Animal Market: A good many people leave the market area empty handed.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia Animal Market: Not everyone is anxious to go home.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: The old guy in the middle of the photo is a beggar who entranced me with his unusual approach.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: I found the knowledge of cooperation between India and Africa intriguing.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: Sculpture on one side of an entrance to an Ethiopian Orthodox church near the center of the city. I notice the non-African features of the image of Christ.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: One of the entrances to the Ethiopian Orthodox church I visited during a time when a high mass was in progress. There were more beggars outside around the church than worshipers inside.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: This is the man who seeing me standing on the first Addis Ababa city bus I ventured to ride stood and insisted I take his seat. I tried to decline, but he adamantly insisted. I made a clumsy effort to take his picture unobserved, but this is what I got: he seems to be looking right into the lens. I've wondered what he might be thinking after seeing this photo.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: Some of the street venders clogging the sidewalks throughout the huge grand market, the Merkato.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: Some of the street venders vie with pedestrians clogging the sidewalks throughout the huge grand market, the Merkato.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: Used electronics parts store; Ethiopian style.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: Monument erected in the middle of a traffic circle that I passed while walking on my way back to the hotel.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: Giant sculpture of bird serves as peace symbol for a local organization's headquarters.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: At the entrance to the cathedral downtown I watched as people paused and paid respect to the sacred site, many approaching the gate posts and kissing them before moving on.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: Men gather after Christmas to chat over an endless delivery of beers in a tiny outdoors drinking area near the hotel. There were a half dozen tables full of happy guys like this one.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: Crossing a bridge on one of my walks back from exploring the central business district I spotted this typical shanty area under the bridge.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: Crossing a bridge on one of my walks back from exploring the central business district I spotted this typical shanty area under the bridge.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: Another view of this typical shanty area under the bridge.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: Main street running by this typical shanty area under the bridge.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: Creating shelter is always a priority and this person solves the problem with a collection of discarded pasteboard boxes.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: At the Menelik Mausoleum Sanna befriends a group of the youthful touts herding naive tourists into the trap.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: At the Menelik Mausoleum Sanna befriends a group of the youthful touts herding naive tourists into the trap.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: This is the Menelik Mausoleum building that I found underwhelming, especially after being forced to pay a 100 Birr entrance fee as I tried to leave the uninteresting dark interior.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: Mosaic depicting the stoning of Saint Stephen over the main door into the St. Stephen Church near the UN Organization for African Unity headquarters.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: Bell tower next to the Saint Stephen Church near the UN Organization for African Unity headquarters. I visited it several times after learning the priest performed healing sessions several times a month... using Holy Water: both drinking and dunking, but never witnessed a performance.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: Donation boxes like this one can be seen at every point of interest around the grounds of the St. Stephen Church. Notice the tamper label and locks; not every visitor is on a holy pilgrimage apparently.


Addis Ababa Ethiopia: One of the priests seen on the grounds of the Saint Stephen Church near the UN Organization for African Unity headquarters.

Reference photo: author
 August 2002
 

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