a slide show on www.mabot.com <<< part 4 >>>

Busses, Waterfalls and Castles
(Addis Ababa to Lake Tana and Gonder)

Addis Ababa to Bahir Dar

After a week in Nairobi, I flew to Addis Ababa where Chris & Sarah, whom my father knew through work, had offered me a place to stay. I lived the ex-pat life for a while, then hopped on a bus going North to see the country.

Addis Ababa golf course
	Then a 2 day bus trip through the Blue Nile gorge to Debre Markos and eventually Bahir Dar on lake Tana

Tis Abay

People come to Bahir Dar for two things: the island monestaries (where the Ark is supposeed to have been kept...) and the Blue Nile falls, Tis Abay. You have to hire a boat for the day to see the monestaries, unfortunatly.

	Approaching the falls: across a 1500s Portugese bridge, along the hill...
... eventually right down underneath them (this is the dry season, btw)		and up into the dense spray.

across Lake Tana

on the 2-day once-a-week ferry, which took only one day as it was headed for repairs. This bit was with Thomas, who was also keen on going walking in the Simien Mountains.

Like all the busses, the ferry nominally leaves at dawn but spends a few hours getting ready.		Thomas in the lifeboat
		So where they going to repair the dead engine or the working one?

then on to Gonder: a church and a whole herd of castles... >>>

by Michael Abbott (email)     www: July 2000     © www.mabot.com > east africa