Listen to radio from around the world ...

Great news!  The website 'Tune In' allows you to 'tune in' to radio stations around the world for free.  There is something amazing about being able to hear what's on the radio in Addis.  
http://tunein.com/

Screen shot of the site.

Adigrat Pizza?

A dish we have jokingly nicknamed "Adigrat Pizza" here at Mama Buzu's house. 
  When  fresh hot injera  is being made,  you mix berbere, oil and salt  and spot a crispy new piece of injera with the mix.   A recipe for a tasty Ethiopian snack. 

Ahora near Golden Mountain in Tigray, Ethiopia

Filming in the village of Ahora near Golden Mountain in Tigray, Ethiopia.   There was a very bloody battle here on February 28th 1914.   98 years later there are still bones of soldiers found.   It is the site where my great great great grandfather Ras Sebhat died.   Residents of Ahora recounted the story of the war.   

I like that we made this visit a surprise visit.   A big thank you to the whole community for their very warm welcome.   Everywhere we went people offered us room in their home and food.   One relative insisted I tell him whenever it is that I plan to return because they'll plan a big party with food, music and dancing!   How lovely.

nothing but blue skies

Adigrat's elevation and geographic surrounding make its climate AMAZING.   There is blue sky and mid 20 celsius weather day after day after day.   My Grandma says I'm very Canadian because I comment on how nice the weather is.  

"Of course it's nice!" she says, "it's Adigrat."

Agoro Lodge

A beautiful new lodge called the Agoro Lodge has been built  just outside of Adigrat.    It is situated upon a hill and has beautiful views of the mountains and countryside around Adigrat.   A modern semi arid escape.   Beautiful slate stone countertops in the bathroom.   Quilted 'gabi' bedding.   Stone walls.   The common room has floor to ceiling windows and a lovely, calming view.   The  sunsets are incredible.    It's also nice that this very quiet oasis is just a few minutes outside of Adigrat.   So you can venture into town to see some of the sights, have a coffee, shop at the market, and return to enjoy the peace and quiet of the lodge.

Bonus:  The lodge is a non-profit social enterprise  whose aim is to reinvest net profit in the community. 

One night's stay is around $60 USD.

http://www.agorolodge.com/en

Supporting business women in Adigrat

There is a beautiful new shopping centre in the eastern part of Adigrat that supports female entrepreneurs.  It was built by a charity that offers business training to women in the Adigrat area.   Top graduates from the program are offered a subsidized store place in the Green Park Mall shopping centre . 

Buying tasty shiro at the Green Park Mall, a new shopping centre in Adigrat, Ethiopia.

You can find honey, crafts, an internet cafe, a general store, a tailor - many little stores at the Green Park Mall.

There are beautiful flowers and green grass on the grounds of the mall here that really make it feel like a little oasis.

 

The only thing that struck me as a little odd about this place is that everything is written in english and english only.  While tourists and other foreigners may find this to be a bit of a relief.  It may not seem particularly welcoming to all the community members who surround the space.

Arriving in Addis Ababa

Arriving in Addis there was the same old feeling walking off the plane. The air full of spice, frankincense and eucalyptus.   I have spent a couple of beautiful days in Addis Ababa.   My aunt arrived in the city the evening of the same day of my arrival.   We spent our days in Addis arranging itineraries and dropping off gifts from family and friends in North America.   Our evenings were spent at restaurants with friends that my aunt and my dad have known since they went to school together. 

There is some really delicious food in the city.   Of course there is absolutely outstanding national food available all around Addis, but the international fare can be pretty great too.   The key for finding good international food is  asking for restaurant recommendations .  

As Addis Ababa has increasingly become a transit centre for travellers (Bole airport has a great many regularly scheduled connecting flights) its popularity as a  great place to have a bit of a longer stop over  has also increased.   As a matter of fact, even on this last flight I took from Toronto to Addis one fellow who was heading to Nigeria was lamenting the fact that he didn't have a long enough stop over in Addis to go eat somewhere in the city.   Anyway, if ever occasioned to stop over, I highly recommend it!

I visited a restaurant called  Giordana's Kitchen Restaurant  for the first time and it really stood out for its high quality italian food.   It is a fair ways away from the airport so it's maybe not ideal for a short stop over.   But, wow!   The food was beautifully balanced and every dish I tasted had complexity and depth.   The restaurant is named after the chef.   She also has a popular cooking TV show in Addis. 

As lovely as Addis has been, I am greatly looking forward to heading to Adigrat to visit with my Grandma.