Our First Day in Ethiopia

We had a busy agenda for our time in Ethiopia this time 'round...not much slack time.  We arrived in Addis late on Saturday, June 04, and decided that, in order to prepare ourselves for the intense week ahead, we would make Sunday a day of rest - a chance to catch up on some sleep and just hang out.  Geoff and I figured that this would be particularly important for Matthew, for whom Ethiopia would be a bit of a shock.  So we did just that - hung out together as a family.  We unpacked a bit, played some UNO, kicked a soccer ball around the courtyard at our guesthouse, met with a couple of other families staying there, and drank coffee (and my, was it good to be back there for the coffee alone!).  It was a needed and restful day, and we were glad for it.

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At the Toronto airport on route to Addis...we had to kill about six hours here before boarding our flight to Frankfurt. Matthew rarely uses his leapster, but it somehow had fresh appeal on the flights in both directions.

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Arriving in Addis, shortly before midnight on Sat, June 04th.  We took six large, 50-pound pieces of checked luggage with us on route to Addis, along with five carry-ons.  On route back, we had three, partially-filled pieces of luggage to check...we left a lot of stuff in Addis.

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The Weygoss Guesthouse, where we stayed this time 'round.

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In our room (#202) at the Weygoss Guesthouse.

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Lunch at New York New York Restaurant, just a few minutes' walk from the Weygoss.  I had my first macchiato of the trip here, and realized as soon as I'd taken my first sip that I was in danger of obsessing about the coffee again!  It really is that good!

Note the fanta pop. We'd told Matthew before leaving for ET that we wouldn't be letting him drink milk or juice in ET...that left him with bottled water (which he drank a lot of) and pop (which he drank even more of, at least in the first couple of days before the novelty of pop drinking wore off and before he puked up the orange stuff)!

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My darlin'.  Isn't he sweet in ET colours? 

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I'd downloaded a few audio books onto my ipod for Matthew's enjoyment during the trip. On that first day in the afternoon, and most evenings before bed, he listened to Adventures in Odyssey or Little House on the Prairie. 

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Matthew, in the courtyard with one of the Weygoss security guards...a lovely man who was awesome with kids, and keeper of the soccer balls!

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Getting to know new friends in the guesthouse common room...where we ordered in dinner on our first night in Addis.

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At the end of a long first day in Addis; this was in the common room at the guesthouse.

All in all, that first day was great, and helped prepare us a bit for the coming number of days.  We were glad to be there, and already looking forward to be headed home...this time to start the next chapter of our lives.