Jamima Guest House

We arrived in Addis Ababa late on Saturday night and we finally navigated through customs we met Danny, our driver, and walked in the Ethiopian Evening. Our senses were overloaded with smells of flowers and the feel of a warm summer evening. The first fresh air we had in about 32 hours. It was lovely. Danny loaded his taxi while we watched the hustle and bustle of the airport. Lots of taxi drivers looking for our fare and a beggar looking for Birr.


We drove the short distance to the guest house we are staying. It is about 6 stories high with 3-4 rooms on each floor. Each room has a queen or king bed, a bathroom, lots of shelving for stuff and table and chairs. They all have little patios. They have a mini fridge as well.
The house also has about 4 common rooms with t.v.s and big sofas and tables and chairs. The guest house is located in a “residential” neighborhood and is surrounded by a tall cement wall with barbed wire on top.

The interested thing is that Addis Ababa is a very safe city and the culture itself is very respectful of other’s property. The barbed wire is a status symbol. It is equivalent to the “white picket fence” in America. Jill and I hit the shower, popped a sleeping pill and fell asleep to the sound of soft rain. We both awoke happy and well rested about 7 a.m. to sun streaming in our rooms and the sound of Amharic chatter, cows, dogs, and a few cat fights. Breakfast was crepes and coffee, really good coffee, and avocado juice.