Happy New Year
With one day to go before my arrival in Ethiopia, I thought I would share with you one of my experiences during my flying visit to Addis Ababa a few
October 5, 2023
Life in Ethiopia
A room with a view
View from my balcony – there does seem to be an existing green gully or ravine, but I doubt that it is going to last… Looking at the map of
October 6, 2023
Holiday
Both times I have been in Ethiopia, it has been a public holiday; either I am just plain lucky, or they have holidays all the time. I have been told
October 7, 2023
Building works
After my preliminary trip here, I remarked to several people on the quality of the public infrastructure, in particular the pavements, which are in a dreadful state, making any journey
October 9, 2023
Atala
Fantu and Atala Immediately following the first Drama session, Alazar introduced me to Atala. She works for the Ministry of Education, but is especially interested in theatre and acting, and
October 11, 2023
Getting around
One of the old blue and white taxis Like the vast majority of cities anywhere in the world, Addis Ababa has a serious traffic problem. Of course, there is the
October 14, 2023
Yod Abyssinia
I think I have mentioned Biruk, the student neighbour of Anchu, my landlady (and so my neighbour too, I guess.) He took me to the big supermarket soon after I
October 15, 2023
Road users
When I wrote the post about public transport here, I mentioned that Addis had a problem with traffic. This is scarcely unusual, of course; I don’t suppose there is a
October 17, 2023
Churches and a theatre
St George’s I had arranged with Biruk, my friendly neighbourhood student cum taxi-driver, that he should take me on a relatively informal tour of the city. During my previous brief
October 18, 2023
Dramatic encounters
Meaza, Yohannes, Eshatu and Kenasa – Egeon wants to know where he is Last night at about 7.30, I had just eaten my dinner and was listening to the BBC
October 20, 2023
Real life
Immediately to the right of the man in the jacket is a butcher’s shop, which rather seems to be rubbing the goat’s nose in it. After an enjoyable breakfast at
October 21, 2023
Big money, little money
In the UK, as must be the case in much of the developed world, there is a decided move away from a cash economy towards money being managed online and
October 22, 2023