Our driver using the "toilet"

Our driver stopped the Land Cruiser to use the "toilet" in clear view. He actually said "toilet." I hope he didn't forget to flush. Dwain had to relieve himself a bit later, but he found a much more discreet bit of Ethiopian vegetation to provide some privacy.

The driver was a nice fellow who did his best to converse with us, but his English was limited. On the trip home he eventually turned up the radio and sang along, probably in order avoid answering any more of our questions.

Hosanna

We traveled south of Addis for about 3 hours through sparsely populated rural areas and small villages to the town of Hosanna, about 60,000 people and no paved roads. This trip was beyond words to describe. The trip started about an hour before sunrise. The scenery was breathtaking. Along the entire 150-mile stretch of recently built highway, people walked along the road carrying plastic jugs to get water; some had donkeys to help. We were constantly slowed by people and animals risking their lives by coming within inches of our car as it traveled up to 60 mph.

Most of the people in Ethiopia are farmers who grow only enough food to feed their families, if even that. Many live in circular cooling huts made of mud, dung, and sticks. Their livestock (cattle, goats, chickens, etc.) also live in these one-room structures in order to protect them from thieves and hyenas.

Beautiful Ethiopia

The contrasts in standard of living in Ethiopia are extreme. Here are more shots of the relatively rare wealthy segments of Ethiopia. These are in Addis Ababa from the rooftop of our guest house.

Market shopping

There are lots of smaller stores and markets. Here, Dwain is buying water one of the countless small markets. We were instructed not to eat any produce.

These blue and white taxis are everywhere. The streets and sidewalks seem to be crumbling where ever you walk. I almost fell off the sidewalk curb two feet down onto the street. Not exactly the sidewalk curbs I'm used to.

Mules (or is it donkeys?) and goats are everywhere is this bustling city living among the heavy diesel traffic and 3 million people. It is an interesting mix of modern life and life from centuries ago. The only consistently unpleasant aspect of moving around the city (aside from the death defying automobile rides) was the diesel engine smoke and fumes. At times it was suffocating.

Us at the coffee shop on our shopping outing. This was a fun day!