Go with Henry: Stopover in Addis Ababa

Sunday 18 May 2014

Stopover in Addis Ababa

One day in Addis

Ethiopia

30 July 2012

Background

After teaching English in Oman for 9 months, our employer booked us spots on Ethiopian Airlines back to South Africa. We experienced serious challenges over the nine-month period, such as an ankle break, a moldy hotel and nearly 3 months in a flat above a brothel with stinky drains and a mattress that killed our backs, so we gladly took what was available.

The flight in Muscat departed late, due to much-needed maintenance on the plane (not very comforting), led to us missing our connection flight to SA in Addis Ababa. The next available flight was only the next day, so we were stuck for a day. The Airline gave us vouchers to stay at a hotel for a night absolutely free.

The Hotel De Leopol International was not the Sheraton, but after a stressful trip from Muscat, a sight for sore eyes. I worked in Somali-land 10 years prior and has been to Addis Ababa during that time.

With an eagerness to work and travel to developing countries, I saw this as a wonderful opportunity once more to visit and experience Ethiopia. My wife, however, beyond the point of trauma, did not share my eagerness for discovery.

We took a hotel 'shuttle bus' to the hotel, which afforded me at least to take some pictures along the way as we drove through the streets en-route to our hotel. It was a rainy day, so leaving the hotel room was not really pleasant, which eased the pain somewhat for me for not being able to explore.

I stood on my small hotel room balcony and took some pics of what was happening below me. I will never forget the small space in the little elevator that took us many floors up......too small for one and his luggage.....I rather take the steps in future....safer that way.

We woke early the next morning not to miss the plane, supposedly to receive a hotel breakfast, which never took place. After many queues and checkpoints, we eventually got on the plane for SA.

Addis street scene

About Addis Ababa

Addis Ababa, "new flower"; "Natural Spring(s)” or Addis Abeba (the spelling used by the official Ethiopian Mapping Authority), is the capital and largest city of Ethiopia. As a chartered city (ras gez astedader), Addis Ababa has the status of both a city and a state.

It is where the African Union is and its predecessor the OAU was based. It also hosts the headquarters of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and numerous other continental and international organizations.

Addis Ababa is therefore often referred to as "the political capital of Africa" for its historical, diplomatic and political significance for the continent (Wikipedia).