Istanbul/Ethiopia/Azerbaijan Day 6

March 1, 2016

For some reason I awakened at 4:30am. I have no idea why but I was wide awake. I never have issues with jet lag beyond the first day and even had a good sleep in Istanbul so, this was a surprise.

I logged into messenger and sent a few messages...and responses started coming in. My peeps in the US were still up. So...I had 3 conversations going for about an hour and a half. Also, my friend, Harriet, was so excited that I had a cross and a goat skin painting they she is going to come and visit me in Boston. I can't wait to see her! :-)

I finally got ready for breakfast and finished packing at 8:00. I was still early as the airport van would stop to pick me up at 9:30am.

Breakfast was at my spot were I had it every morning I had another glorious morning with mountain views and pancakes, scrambled eggs with veggies and a Coke. Food had been good and my stomach accepted it, I had been very fortunate or I just had a really good cook, I think it's the later.

It was time to go. I said my good bye to Ambachew and we were on our way. Revisiting the countryside in the way was my last look at how the villages of Northern Ethiopia live. The houses made of sticks and mud, no running water, no electricity, growing your food. Only the villages like Lalibela had a few little market to buy a soda, coffee, and simple meals.

At the airport, it looked as though our little flight would be full as the tiny departure area was full. Two security screenings were quite different. The second had me remove my iPad ( the first didn't, they had me show my passport actually a 3rd time, and they would not let me carry on the crosses purchased in Lalibela. I had to go back to check in and ..check my bag. I think from this point on, the bag would have to be checked. Of well, I had wanted to save some time here and there but this prevented it. I wanted my crosses and if this is how they make it home, so be it.

As I sat waiting did the plane to arrive, a man runs into bathroom and for the next 5 minutes we all could hear him vomiting. :-( Also, the plane was late by about 45 minutes. Boarding, there was a guy who brought on a sitar. Wow. Fortunately, the sick guy sat very far from me. Whew!

Once I arrived, it was quick to get my, one of the first and that never happens. Outside, I couldn't find anyone with a sign with my name on it, to pick me up. I called the hotel and I was picked up in 5 minutes but waited in a makeshift food tent...strange.

The hotel (Bole Sky Hotel) looked much better than the previous hotel in Addis Ababa. The outside was a clean white plaster with warm wood trim on the Windows. The girls as reception were very sweet, one extremely timid and the other too sassy for her own good. I was checked in quickly an the accommodation was explained. I asked for assistance with printing my voucher that would be the car rental in Baku. I had forgotten to print the voucher. I tried to send the email for almost 20 minutes before going up to my room. I kept entering the email incorrectly uhh!!! Finally, I went back down. I had the email correct now but their network connection was so bad that it too many refreshes, starting over numerous times, and just being patient. We just stared at the screen mostly. Finally, finally the page loaded. The girl couldn't print directly. I guess it's the slow internet. She copy/pasted into a work document, then out it on a thumb drive to be taken to the printer. Can you believe it took all of this to print one page form a link in an email.

In the room, it was spacious, reasonably nice ( a palace compare to the other Addis hotel. The bed super comfy with four plush pillows. There was a tv and the bath had a large stand up,showed with a rainhead...Whoohoo! Everything was in working order and the Internet was fantastic. I was able to load a few more tv shows and even stream Netflix.

I stayed away until 7:30pm and that gave me around 4ish hours of sleep, a little less as I had a bit of difficulty sleeping. I knew that if I overslept, I was screwed as getting out of Africa (tonight) and to Istanbul was key to continuing on to Azerbaijan.

Up on time and ready to go only a few minutes late, it was no problem as the driver didn't get there until 12:30am. A 5ish minute ride to the airport and I was washing through the locals just standing around outside. I doubt that they were flying, just hanging out at the airport. Two securities and checking my bag again, and I in our holding area without incident.

The plane took off on time and I was quickly asleep before we took off. I awakened to ear my meal and then back to sleep sandwich time ( 1 1/2 hours before landing).