After a 2 day long journey including a long night in Addis Ababa, Ally and I have made it to Gondar, and completed 2 days of work on our project so far. The journey to Addis was uneventful, except for our 100 lb box, that people have found so amusing and have taken pictures of our box. It is full of spay and neuter equipment, and lovingly named "The Hoss" after David Hasselhoff, because like our box, I have a love hate relationship with the Hoss.

We landed in Addis Ababa to a beautiful day and I was surprised and delighted with all the beautiful foliage. Even on busy streets downtown, people were watering the garden plots. 

Addis Ababa Airport

 
My impressions of Addis is that it is like any other city, but with goats everywhere, and a spicy aroma. The hotel we stayed at was very Westernized, and I was even able to order a Gin Fizz, which I cant actually find at most bars in the US!! Right outside our hotel were some goats munching on a "choice" piece of land:

Munching land for Goats outside of Jupiter Hotel

Later that night we saw a beautiful harvest moon that was bright orange, and because there are less street lamps in the city, the moon was very bright, although we saw no stars

Harvest moon of Addis Ababa

 We soon moved on, traveling to Gondar on a quick 1 hour flight. Tana Lake and the entrance to the Nile was visible during the descent. The land in this area is mainly used for agriculture. the airport was quaint and charming. Certainly no need to make sure you know which baggage claim to go to (hint, there is only one).

Flight into Gondar

Gondar Airport

Upon arrival, we struggled to get our 100 lb box of veterinary medical supplies into the van, but after a little bit of adjustment we found ourselves at the Kino Hotel, which is our home away from home for the next 30 days. We were in our room by a little gift left in the bathroom.

The Shorts of Lord Gondar

 The most amazing weather greeted us. Although we arrived in sunshine, within minutes of arriving at our hotel, the sky went metallic and looming, and let forth a storm of rain and hail for 5 hours, which flooded our room significantly. 

Sunny Gondar from our hotel room upon arrival

Ominous Gondar form the same view, pre storm

Mid storm one of our liaisons found us and brought us to the vet school. Before our planning meeting we sat in on DVM students defending their theses which was very intimidating (for them). The floors are strewn with long green grass that is to help keep the floors clean, but also represents serenity and is used extensively in the coffee ceremony. The students are sharp dressers, and we could only wish that our American men would be half as well dressed

DVM students in skinny suits

The next day we began our transects, and although things did not proceed smoothly or like we would prefer, we got a lot of exercise. Google EArth images did not prepare me for the mountainous terrain. What looks like city online IS city, but it is constant hills (and by hills I mean vertical terrain). Our 8 miles felt like 20. 

Just a little taste of our terrain!

Along the way I saw this little business. What "mystical general trading" is I do not know, but if I had the courage or the language skills I would have tried going inside.

Mystical General Trading Shop

We walked through the University of Gondar campus (not a surprise, there were no dogs there) but we also walked through the suburban areas by our hotel and we have found our local dog, now known as "Kino." He only has half his ears. The strange and new flora along the way is beautiful but eerie because it looks like space flora. 

Entrance to UoG

Kino, our local hotel dog

Flowers of Gondar

Perhaps the best part is the food (of course). The food here mostly consists of Injera, which is the base of most foods. It is a lemony spongy bread that looks like a crepe. On top you can get a variety of foods, and this one is Bozeno Shiro, which must be poured onto the Injera. The portions are large, so Ally and I have shared every meal. 

Shiro boiling in a little clay pot

Pouring the Shiro

Time to eat!

 

Of course, no trip to Ethiopia is complete without lots of coffee! Although I prefer plain coffee, their traditional Macchiato are common to drink all day long. I am up to three or four cups a day now, and at only 40 cents, I am not breaking the bank, unlike the US Starbucks. 

Macchiato, a gift leftover by Italian influence

Okay, more to come as we continue our trials and tribulations in Ethiopia. It isnt the easiest place to work, but it is beautiful and rewarding in a different way than work in the US.