Bahir Dar

Greetings to our family and friends. This message is being sent from Tana Hotel, Bahir Dar. Here is summary. We left the husle of Addis yesterday morning, and flew  one hour to Bahir Dar on Lake Tana, the beginning to of the Blue Nile River which eventually runs into the White Nile from Uganda to form the main Nile.

Airport in Bahir dad is quite different from others. After landing we were in waiting area for luggage. All was left on the cart and we went out to grab. The walked through all the construction, literally, to our car and driver. Shortly after arriving at the hotel, we got on a little boat and went to the peninsula of Zeke to tour some Orthodox monasteries. For some reason this area has many of them. About 37. Most built in 16th century. Long hikes on rough trails to get to them. Along the way, youngsters are peddling little trinkets. Sad that one couldn't purchase something from everyone. We got a little reed boat and reed vase. Monasteries are large round outer structures with square worship area under. Paintings on four walls depict Biblical stories. Paintings from 18th century but touched up. Images of people: two eyes = believers. One eye = non believers.

Then back to hotel for lunch before getting in van and driving to Blue Nile Falls. What a trip. Road rough. People, goats, cattle, sheep, all along the road. Interesting to see the shacks people live in. Stick huts with mud and corrigated roofs. Then long hike to falls. Beautiful. "Water that Smokes" is other name because the mist. Again, the peddlers along the trail.

Amazing about cell phone technolgy. What they did without is unconceivable. Guide is constantly in contat with driver or texting others to make sure things are arranged. Also, it was interesting to see ATM and how nice to bunch a few numbers and out comes Ethiopian Birrs. ATM's are more recent here.

Today we drive to Gondor, the original capital of Ethiopia, and spend the night there. Bob Sturtevant is not feeling well today. Maybe wrong food last night. Rest of us okay.

I couldn't figure out how to get into my blog. Rats. I am really frustrated. I have to search through all my papers to figure out which of the multitude of passwords I may have used for that. Oh well. The aging process regarding memory sucks.

Until another opportunity exists, I will sign off.

Phil