Christmas in Addis 2007
on J and M in Assosa (Ethiopia), 28/Dec/2007 09:10, 34 days ago
We arrived as planned on Sunday 16thDecember but not without mishap. The car did not pick us up at home to take us to the airport as arranged so while Jeremy frantically tried to get somebody on the phone I went out to the main road and stopped the first decent looking car I saw. Fortunately it was occupied by a charming older couple who instructed their driver to take them home and then take us to the airport. The most embarrassing moment of my time in Assosa– we had never seen them before but they knew all about us!We attended the‘Leavers Workshop’ on Monday without mishap.On Tuesday we booked the flights for out trip in February, Addis toZanzibar, thenLusakato J’burg and on to Tana(Madagascar) and back to J’burg and Addis.We even booked our last flight from Assosa on 3rdFebruary with mixed emotions.Wednesday was a Muslim public holiday so all offices closed.Thursday we attended the Police and Forensic investigation office to obtain a police check to cover us for the last 2 years. It was packed and even with us being told to go to the front of all queues it took about an hour. We had to have the fingerprints of both hands taken plus our whole hands. However a very efficient procedure and we have to call back for our official document in one week.Late on Thursday evening we got a pc from our next visitors from theUKsaying that they had just been told by their travel agent that all flights to Assosa were stopping from 3rdJanuary for 3 months. We were stunned but accepted it might be possible as the airport is about to be asphalted. It is a pity they could not have waited another month but I am sure they are influenced by the weather. This means that we will get back on the 1stJanuary as planned but we now have to get ourselves back to Addis at the end of January to start our trip on 6thFebruary. This will mean two days driving but I will try to be positive and pretend it is the start of our holiday. Just have to find a suitable car and driver now. However there may be lots of cars going as there will be no other way to get to and from Assosa.In addition our visitors are also flying to Assosa on the 1stJanuary and will then drive from Assosa and link in with their original plans at Bahir Dar.By the way if anyone is thing of posting anything please don’t as there may be NO POST to Assosa for these 3 months and if you do not get a reply to your letter that is why. We can confirm this on our return to Assosa.Friday we confirmed with EA that they are closing Assosa Airport for 3 months so although we booked our flight tickets for the beginning of February only 2 days before they are no longer of any use..In the evening we attended the service of Nine Lessons and Carols at the Anglican church which makes it feel more like Christmas.We spent Christmas Day at the Hilton reading, swimming and over dosing on sun. I had to keep pinching myself to remind myself I was still in Addis Ababa– we could have been anywhere in the world. On the way in to the Hilton at10 amwe were accosted by a reporter from the German equivalent of BBC World pushing a microphone in our faces and asking how Europeans spent Christmas in Addis. I was so surprised it took me a while to think. You don’t get that sort of thing in Assosa. Jeremy had to come to my rescue.We have found Addis very cold after Assosa particularly in the mornings and evenings. I am sure this is good practice for our return to theUK.Thursday we were entertained by way as a thank you in a wonderful Arab restaurant by consultants who have won a contract in the MI to write manuals. Later we met Diana one of our fellow volunteers in Assosa who is staying in the Sheraton where she invited us to afternoon tea. Another world! But very pleasant and after 10 days there it will be hard for her to return to Assosa. It was wonderful to turn on the tap and have not just water but hot water come out. It is perhaps fortunate that we have discovered this luxury so late.