Easter in Addis Abeba

Easter here in  Ethiopia is more important than Christmas. So everyone is getting ready for this special event. On Good Friday most roads were jammed with traffic due to all the people - but Mussulmen - going to church. A beautiful sight, all dressed in white cotton robes.

Since Easter is also the end of 2 months fasting (people eat only vegetarian and no butter or eggs) there are bulls and sheep for sale everywhere along the main roads.  The pictures here were taken on Sunday morning: lots of sheepskin heaped up and a few sheep still for sale, cheaper now than yesterday.

We had a quiet Friday and Saturday as I had a severe backache and could not sit properly. Walking was OK, standing only for half an hour. So I read a lot in the book ‘Tower in the sky’ by and Ethiopian author. she writes about the time she was a student while the revolution here took place (1969- 1974) and the Dergue (military regime) came into power. It is extra interesting as I was a student in that time as well and the only thing I knew than was that there was severe hunger in Ethiopia and Eritrea. Looking back,  the famine was  the main reason for the upheaval, as the then Haile Selassi regime looked the other way while investing huge amounts of money in the celebrations of  the Emperor’s 50st year of reign.

Our little dog is better again, stitches and the splint  were removed this week. Now she needs training!

On Easter Sunday we went to Beletech’s house. It couldn’t be otherwise, since we are family and family comes together on Easter Sunday.  Doro Wot for lunch of course and it tasted great! 

The big surprise was that the day before, Shingo had received a present for Easter, 2 litres of Tedj (Honey wine) and a whole life sheep. The interesting thing beingt hat it came from a good friend in the U.S. by internet order, delivered at her doorstep. I didn’t know this possible here! Since Beletech’ knife was not sharp enough, the neighbour couldn’t kill the sheep, so she     had to hire a butcher. They come along with a good knife, do the killing and filling for 80 birr (4 US dollar) and continue their way. Here’s a picture of Shingo (right) with her long time Ethiopian friend.

At home there was - exceptionally - a European bee-eater sitting on our electricity line. 

Earlier I 'caught' a beautiful blue-eared starling, sitting just out of my window.