Saturday 14th Feb

Meet Claire, the new girl, who we heard got robbed the day before, on her
second day of a two month stay in Addis. She tells her story and I'm
fascinated. Seems like she did a few things wrong.
I'm determined to get internet today. I taxi to mall where we saw film
last night. Free internet apparently but as i order my coffee and cake,
there is wireless connection but no internet this morning. It'll be like
this all across Addis. People get used to this kind of intermittent
service here and never complain. It happens with everything.
I try to make phone calls - No luck. Then walk along 22nd st - just called
22 or 'haya hulett'. I'm wearing contacts and my 20 dollar truck stop
sunnies, have my crumpler bag over shoulder and walking boots. I feel like
a whitie tourist. My least favourite thing here.
I take photos of the signs that mark some of the little bars I saw the
previous night. Try to find knife sharpener to put and edge to the knives
in the kitchen where we're staying. There are so many little jobs to do
there.
I find only a metal file - apparently, using my pigeon amharic and awkward
hand gestures, that is what they use here to do the job.
Stop off at Panorama and the internet is back on - yay! Upload blog.
Japi meets me here and we taxi back to mall. Not sure what she was
planning to do there but I tag along. Run into S & E from KM - they have a
little possie. We go for coffee & ice cream. I have 2 scoops, cinnamon and
mocca.
Getting frustrated at elephantine group dynamics, I need to go. Taxi to KM
and catch up with Tim who has been taking more photos at KM and out
walking also took Emily to bank at Hilton.
Rendezvous with Emily at Arat Kilo then walk through red light shanty area
in a big loop to Piazza. Many good photo op's but generally too dark for
iPhone, my camera of chouce - unbelievably! Oh, GPS tracking seems to be
working on phone now. Maybe once enough maps have been cached, it works?
Magic! Would have been nice two weeks ago!
Discover Big Tree, rather large and cool bar. Fires burning, multiple
bars, very crowded. Would be good spot for a little party.
Down allies and lanes, visiting night market - for want of a better name.
Where we see a stall that rents Play Station II by the minute. So many
creative and interesting ways people find to make a living here.
Quick pasta dinner then walk to Arat Kilo and wait for a mini bus. It's
late - 9:30 and most busses have finished. Finally Emily's arrives, them
mine - Phew! Feet sore.