Sunday, November 15, 2009

NaBloPoMo 15--Memories of Ethiopia

I realized that I never really did post photos of our trip to Ethiopia.  I couldn't upload them from overseas and when we came back, it was a little too overwhelming to really get it done.

I really believe everyone should go to Ethiopia at some point.  It was one of the most welcoming places I have ever been, absolutely beautiful, and the food is incredibly delicious.  (If you're ever in Atlanta, we have several wonderful Ethiopian restaurants here and we'd be more than happy to take you to one.) 


To all of my Ethiopian-adoptive blogger friends, I would love to hear some of your non-adoption-related memories of Ethiopia.  One of mine is of our drive to Hosanna.  Both Jason and I made the comment that it reminded us of the American southeast (a region we both love).  It was very sparse and bare, but beautiful with the sun just rising over the mountains.  The picture was from a moving car--I apologize for the quality, but the light was just gorgeous.  What amazed me even more was seeing pictures from other travelers of the same area just a few short weeks later--the rains had begun and that sparse area was lush and verdant.  Next time we go, I look forward to traveling around the country as much as possible.

These are in no particular order, and are a small percentage of my favorites.


The CHSFS main guesthouse.


The walk from the main offices to the care center.


Some views of Addis Ababa.



Scaffolding. Scary, huh?





The replica of Lucy's skeleton.  I believe she was on tour in Houston while we were there.
 

The ceiling of the restaurant we went to for traditional Ethiopian food and dancing.
 

Patrick making a friend in Hosanna.
 

A family near Hosanna.  We stopped on the way back to see their home.  The kids loved to have their pictures taken and then see them on the cameras.
 

On the way back to the guesthouse the first day we could take Melkamu from the care center.  He wasn't so sure about the carrier, but I got lots of approving looks from other people who liked that I was carrying him close instead of pushing him in a stroller.
 

My boys after the embassy visit, when Kamu was approved for his American visa.
 

1 comment:

Jess said...

What fabulous pics! But man. That scaffolding. Ridiculous!