There was only one fallacy with the timing of our trip: we wouldn’t be home for Christmas. But we’re thinking of each and every one of you and hoping that you have a joyous day together! Our time in Africa has definitely showed us how people can live happily with very little, and we’re very blessed to have such wonderful friends and a comparative life of luxury.
Where are we? We’re asking ourselves that same question on a daily basis. We’ve kinda lost track, especially when it comes to what day of the week it is. And we can hardly believe it’s December 25!
Turns out we’re in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – in a lovely hotel room at the Intercontinental. If you would’ve asked me 6 months ago where Addis Ababa was, I wouldn’t have had a clue. I still don’t know much, except what it says on Wikipedia (click HERE). I was relieved to read that the altitude is over 7,500 feet here, which quelled my alarm at being out of breath after climbing just one flight of stairs.
We were supposed to be at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo at this very moment, but our flight from Zanzibar (scheduled to leave at 3:45 yesterday afternoon) took off 3 hours late. Which meant that we missed our connection in Addis Ababa and therefore had to wait another 23 hours to catch the next flight.
Fortunately the people from Ethiopian Airlines are super nice, and despite all the pushing and shoving from the angry and whiny (most Indian) dudes trying to get their flights rebooked, we were thoroughly taken care of. It took us about an hour to get through the line, but we decided that patience pays off, as the people at the end of the line got vouchers for the best hotels. Justice! (Good thing there WAS room at the inn.)
We got to the hotel room around 1:30 a.m. and called the hotel in Cairo to let them know that we missed the connection, and we were sorry that we couldn’t reach them sooner, as the driver was already at the airport to pick us up. But they were quite understanding, so I have a bit more confidence that the joint will be OK (it’s new and only $38/night, and it will either be really great or really terrible).
We’ve decided not to venture out into town today. We slept until noon, since we stayed up until 3:00 calling our folks for the first time in weeks, since we have both free internet and a quiet space to call.
The airline not only dropped us off at the hotel by bus, but they gave us vouchers for three meals at the hotel. So in the end, it’s been a pleasant and relaxing day. Let’s hope the flight takes off on time tonight!
As an aside, we’ve been hearing Christmas music for about a month now, but mostly in the past week. It’s just hilarious to hear White Christmas and Sleigh Bells while you’re sweating your pants off. And there is a huge gingerbread house frosted in white in the lobby of our hotel. I would venture to say that no person working at the hotel has ever seen snow in person.
We heard Silver Bells one day, which Mr. Farmer has forever tainted in my mind, because he always sings the version his grade school classmates made up to relentlessly tease one of the girls in his class. I’ve changed the names slightly to protect the innocent, but if the shoe fits…
Sliver Bells, Farmer smells
It’s deodorant time in Zanzibar
One two three,
One two three,
Farmer smells good, finally!
The “one two three” part has hand gestures of putting on deodorant, to give you the full picture.
(Those of you meanies who made up the song know who you are!)
gallopingnelly
