Flying Home

Sunday June 29th

Last day and night in Addis before flying home.

Clear blue sky and sunshine – decided to walk to the National Museum and visit ‘Lucy’. The walk to Arat Kilo (4 kms out of town centre) was largely uphill. The first part was pleasant enough, plenty of people about but not so overcrowded that you couldn’t easily walk. As I approached Meskel Square, it got much busier with a mixture of street vendors, beggars and the fall-out from the church.

The atmosphere was busy and pleasant – no people hassling me. Stopped at my favourite eatery for that part of town, Sun Ra and reflected on the last meal I had there with David, Alan and Gordon.

On to the National museum. Presenting my resident’s card, I was surprised to find that I only had to pay Birr 2 – I checked and was assured that as a resident, I only had to pay 2 Birr – about the equivalent of 20p.

For Ethiopia, a well organised museum. Dimly lit to protect the artefacts, the information often stuck too high on the wall for me to read.

‘Lucy’ remains (3.2m years old), very small but with long arms, clearly the highlight of the exhibition.

Interesting information about the evolution of some of the indigenous animals. Up to the first floor for an exhibition of Art. I find little to enthuse about here. One or two pieces vaguely interesting but nothing to make me stop and stare. An interesting photographic display was marred by the electricians re-wiring the gallery – well, it’s what you do on a Sunday!

Walked back down, taking little detours that usually ended up in dead ends but with an interesting mix of housing. Clearly not the shanty town area here.

Nobody about for dinner so ate alone and went for an early night. The meal had just been served when the power was cut. Sat in the dark for about 5 mins – totally alone in the restaurant. I sort of expected that someone might come along with a candle to enable me to finish my meal. In the event, no candle could be found. The waitress eventually turned up with an opened mobile phone which she set by my side in order for me to see!

Fortunately, the generator was kicked into action shortly afterwards.