Our Trip to Ethiopia, Day 9

 Friday, March 17, 2023

Today, we drove across town to the Korah community again. First, we visited Sabahar and bought some gorgeous, soft Ethiopian textiles. 

Next, we headed back to the trash dump area, where we met Tesfaye. Shana, Darci, and Malia planned to purchase a month's supply of food for 6 different families through their give-back businesses, Araya and Prayer Buddies. Tesfaye led us through the market to the little shop where we purchased food items, cooking oil, and soap.

This is teff, Ethiopia's most popular grain:

We went back to Ordinary Hero, where Fray had a wedding gift for Shana and Daniel and a graduation gift for Darci. Then Gecho took us to Fili Coffee for lunch. Malia and I ordered fetira to share...first time I've had it since we were in Gambella ten years ago. Yum!

After lunch, we went back to the guest house, and Tarikua and Hiwet came back to spend time with us. Hiwet braided Malia's hair.

For dinner, we took the girls to the rooftop restaurant at the Monarch hotel. I'm pretty sure they had never had a meal like that before, and Tarikua pronounced it "a perfect night."

We made plans to meet the girls for church on Sunday, and then walked back to the guest house.

Our Trip to Ethiopia, Day 8

 Thursday, March 16, 2023

This morning after breakfast, Gecho took Daniel, Shana, Malia, and me to Entoto Park. The eucalyptus forests were so refreshing and the views of the city were gorgeous. We spent the day hiking, ziplining, rock climbing, bouncing at the trampoline park, eating at Kariftu, and getting cute little baby travel cups at Tomoca Coffee.

We bought gum from this little girl. Last summer, gum cost 10 birr. This time it was 50 birr. Everything in Ethiopia has drastically gone up in price.

On the way back through the city, we stopped at the post office area to do a little shopping for souvenirs/gifts. We then ate dinner at Sishu and headed back to the guest house.