I couldn’t explain to you why I found these tree plantations outside Addis Ababa interesting. But I did. They’re located in the Entoto Mountains overlooking Addis Ababa and you can get there easily by catching a minibus along Entoto Avenue, which for two birr (like 15 cents) will take you to Entoto Church. When you … Continue reading
Wading into the market chaos just west of the center known as the Merkato can be a rewarding experience if you enter with the right frame of mind. You may find the most eloquent aroma wafting from precious incense. And you may also find that your wallet has been stolen and that your shoes are … Continue reading
If you want a real “Wild West” environment in Ethiopia, I would suggest heading to Jijiga. In the interest of providing balance, the British Home Office emphatically does not suggest visiting Jijiga. We advise against all travel to Jijiga town, due to the risk of being caught up in a bomb attack following a number … Continue reading
As mentioned previously, I shall allow my last post on the rock-hewn churches of Lalibela to serve as a segue into a discussion of Lalibela itself. And, frankly, I found Lalibela and its environs more interesting than the churches the town is famous for. A little background: Lalibela (also known as Lalibala) was the most … Continue reading
While driving through Somalia, we came across this battered tank – a casualty of the Somali civil war: I was surprised to see that it still had its number plate: The armed guard we hired, Mahamed Ali, poses next to the bombed-out tank for me: This crude graveyard was just behind the tank which led … Continue reading
With all of this talk of nomadic watering holes, I realized I should discuss the nomads themselves some more. The nomads in Sudan were very interesting to me. I’d first encountered nomads in Afghanistan and have been fascinated by them ever since. Perhaps it is the simplistic beauty of their minimalist lifestyle or the fact … Continue reading
A rather unique memorial to some of the many victims of human excess and folly can be found humbly tucked away in a small garden along the Thames Path near The Cutty Sark Tavern in Greenwich: If you are not able to make out the text on the marker for some reason, it reads as … Continue reading
The Velvet Rocket 