MY FIRST TRIP

From Wednesday through Friday, Maria, Greg and myself (along with a travel director named MeKonnen) went to Awassa. It was amazing because as you left the city you could see the small huts people live in and no more begging. I found it very interesting that for security from animals they grow large cactus around their huts.
Awassa was amazing. We did stop for lunch on our way at a resort on Lake Langano. The three of us are still having trouble eating so we kept it simple. Once at Awassa we checked into our hotel and went straight for a boat ride to look for hippos and birds. The boat was an old rickety wooden boat that had oars and a motor added. I prayed we would make it back safely. After about an hour and still no hippos (much to Greg's dismay) we turned back he did continue to look and we finally saw hippos - amazing to see them in their natural environment. We then went back and out to dinner then to bed. The beds were as hard as a rock and I did not fall asleep until nearly two in the morning. There was a lot of shouting outside as well. In the morning there was a roach in our bathroom - thank goodness I had not seen it before. It was a three star hotel here but would not get any at home.
Thursday we went to the local fish market which was lovely to see. We also saw countless storks and monkeys. I got some amazing photos here, I also got to feed a monkey - so cool!!!!! We then headed off for breakfast, I was feeling better so I had some eggs - so yummy and protein!!!!! We then drove to see Rastafarian's but they would not let us into their compound -kind of happy about that. Then off to hot springs where Greg and Maria swam and MeKonnen and I talked. He has lived in different parts of the world and traveled a lot. I asked him where he preferred to be and he said Ethiopia. He said both of our cultures have something and are missing something. We have access to everything we want and lots of stuff but most Americans are selfish and not interested in family. Here they have nothing and are all about family. He said they are rich in culture but poor for things.He also said that is why they do not feel the need to work, people just need to make enough to buy food for that day and that is fine with them. Food for thought. There are things he said I agree with and others I do not. We talked about this for quite a while.
Then we went for lunch to a horrible place. I ordered water and the others ordered food. Once their food came they wished they would not have ordered, back and forth to the kitchen and nothing was really eaten. We were told we could have lunch once we got to the new hotel.
Lake Langano - we checked into our bungalow. We were supposed to have two double occupancy rooms but they were out of those so we took a family room. The boys shared a room and Maria and I had our own bedrooms. It was on the lake so after lunch and while Maria swam, the boys and I talked. The boys then played pool and we went for a long dinner. We went back to our room and sat on our porch and talked for hours before bed. These beds you could feel every spring - ugh.
On Friday we had breakfast at the hotel and headed toward home. We stopped at an amazing resort for lunch and I told MeKonnens this is where we should stay, it was amazing. I am feeling tons better so I had steak and potatoes - yummy.
We got home and had a leisurely afternoon and a dinner reunion with Sarah and Louise. They came home and there was a rock fight in front out our compound very interesting , at least there were no guns or knifes like America!!!