Return to Addis

We had a smooth journey back here via British Rail, Underground and direct flight from Heathrow. We were delivered by taxi to Wim's Holland House just after 8am on Tuesday, 9th to find the Enterprise in good order. We were a little surprised that Rahel was in the Netherlands and no-one was expecting us or knew who we were. Our first day was spent testing and checking all was well. Our only concern was that 2 other vehicles were parked beside and in front of us, left in storage, and no keys had been left. Fortunately one was unlocked and we were able to push it forward far enough to escape from the trap.

The last 3 days have been spent in the compound and we may be here for a further 4 days. We have had 2 visits on foot to the Sudanese Embassy and obtained another visa without problem. Yesterday we took the Enterprise out for a 'spin' and visited the local big supermarket to stock up on groceries. Not a wide choice so we don't feel quite as self-sufficient as before. We have been having most of our meals at the restaurant here and socialising with the other 'guests'. These have included a young Swiss cyclist, Lucas, who is travelling South and was not enjoying Ethiopia as he is a target for stone throwing youngsters. He left early yesterday morning and Chris helped him load his bike and fortified him with coffee. Ida and Cesaris from Poland had been waiting here 10 days for a part to arrive for their motorbike. They collected it yesterday although it had arrived on Monday and they were told it hadn't. An annoying delay for a lovely couple. Departing at 5am today they hoped to ride the 800km to the Kenyan border before it closed for the weekend, an almost impossible feat with all the animals and people on the roads which we experienced. There have also been a couple of separate German backpackers passing through. Perhaps the most interesting are a Belgian woman and her 3 daughters who are spending a year driving down the east coast and back up the west. Their vehicle had a clutch burn out 7 hours from Addis and they got a lift so she could buy a replacement and get it sent back to her husband who had stayed with the car. It has now arrived here. We have been invited to the eldest daughter's 11th birthday party today.

We have been debating whether to go to Djibouti. It is a 2 day drive each way and we were unsure we wanted to do that on Ethiopian roads. We have the time but will need to apply for our visa on Monday and then get another Ethiopian E-visa to return. We have more or less decided to do this but it means waiting here until Tuesday at the earliest, not a bad place to hang around but we are anxious to be on the move again.