Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

The nicest feature of Addis Ababa is the moderate climate, just like Mexico City and other cities located at high altitudes near the equator.

I was surprised to see the eucalyptus tress. The Ethiopians imported them from Australia years ago because they grow quickly and make good firewood.

A picturesque sight. As you ride the bus from the airport to downtown, all along the way you see the troops of drovers with their little burros carrying loads of firewood moving toward the downtown in the morning and returning to the countryside in the evening to reload for next day's trip.

The foreign embassies are located along the same road. Most of them are very small modest bungalows and some are just tin shanties.

We're talking here about a third world country, you know. Most of the building in the city center were pretty shabby, dilapidated, derelict, run down, whatever. ("Too many notes, my dear Mozart.")

The Hilton hotel was in relatively good shape and a comfortable place to stay. The hotel compound looked like a medieval fortress or a prison with a high, thick concrete wall enclosing several acres including a nice, large swimming pool.

I never tasted any coffee as delicious.

5/2/2005 email