Preparing for another Christmas in Ethiopia

     You know you've been in a place a long time when significant events start repeating. Paul and I are approaching our second Christmas, but this one will mark the first one, ever, not spent in the company of our children, family and friends. Last year this time we were so excited and eagerly anticipating the arrivals of first Johanna, then Aleysha, Daylan and Jenn, followed by Allison and lastly, Wayne. Living 7000 miles away from 'home' for the most has not been difficult, but with Christmas just around the corner I'm really feeling the distance.  It's a natural response I suppose. So much of Christmas is wrapped (no pun intended) up in family and friends that it's impossible to separate. Fortunately we don't have to, thanks to the marvels of technology. Christmas Day this year will involve Skype chats to Ottawa and Switzerland.  The 8 and 2 hour time  differences will not be a challenge as Paul and I are quite accustomed to working around our children's schedules. Of course on Christmas Day we have no doubt that our kids and family will be setting aside time to 'chat' with us.  It's a date!

     So what's involved in preparing for Christmas in Addis?  We attended the German and Diplomat Bazaars in search of Christmasy decorations to add to our existing stash. The German Bazaar did not disappoint as we picked up a wreath, as well as some more wooden hanging decorations. The lingering scent of the wreath evokes memories of home. Well somewhat, considering Paul and I have a fake tree at home, but still the pine smell says: "Christmas". So with the help of Aynalem I put out some decorations. Our "Christmas Tree" outside has really grown a lot in the past year. I realised I likely need more ornamental balls, but this will have to do. It doesn't feel at all like Christmas, but decorating 'helps' create the atmosphere.

Always in our hearts!

Come in, Canada for Life!

See how I've grown. Ethiopian sunshine!

White tree silhouette due to the bright sunshine and lousy photographer!

Table for Two this year.

Stockings are hung and waiting for the big day.

     Last Friday, we attended a Christmas party hosted by a Canadian Embassy friend, Celeste and her husband Jeff.  It was nice seeing evidence of  traditional decorations in keeping with 'our' customs. We were first greeted by lights flashing along the perimeter of their balcony; a welcome sight, minus the adornment of snow, of course. Their 8 foot Christmas tree was beautifully lit and decorated. I'm guessing they may have brought it from Canada. Paul and I weren't successful in finding a large tree in Addis as the prices were ridiculous, so we compromised by buying two: our cute, traditional 3 footer and our decorative tabletop white Parisian tree. Celeste and Jeff had also decorated the room with Christmas lights, wreaths and candles.  All in all a lovely setting and the Christmasy spirit was evident in the free-flowing bar and festive treats. We did lots of dancing, drinking and eating and the evening just flew by.

     Paul and I are also planning a Christmas Party dinner for his staff, but Ethiopians do not celebrate Christmas on December 25th. Ethiopian Christmas falls on a fasting day, January 7/15, so we will have our dinner party January 8th. This will be an event that Aynalem will help me with as I do my best to incorporate some ferenji traditions into the mix.

    Paul and I, knowing that this Christmas would be a first without our family, decided to do something different other than remain in Addis. Well, somewhat different since " travel planning" is something I love doing and I rarely require any prompting. Give me a destination and I am on it!  So we're taking a short flight from Addis Christmas Eve to Arba Minch. Arba Minch is a city and separate woreda in Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region. We considered driving (for a nano second), but when you compare a 9 hour drive (on Ethiopian roads) versus a 50 minute flight, it's really a no-brainer. There is no doubt that the scenic route would have been beautiful, but experience has proven that driving in Ethiopia is not relaxing . We arrive in Arba Minch around 3 pm and it's a short shuttle to Paradise Lodge where we will be staying for 5 days. The Lodge is nestled between two lakes and the views are suppose to be spectacular.   I won't go into any detail as I've never been, but all reports are that Paradise Lodge is a nice place, with all the amenities, fine dining and entertainment.  We are looking forward to a relaxing atmosphere and potential outings in the area,  There's a National Park near by which has zebras. I'm not expecting it to compare to last year's safari, but I love zebras, so if there's a chance to see them in the wild, I don't want to miss it.  Going to Paradise Lodge is our Christmas present to each other.  The Lodge has Wifi, so that will be their gift to us.  We hope to share the experience of  Christmas in Arba Minch with You!

     In the meantime, as Christmas draws closer, take a moment to pause amid the hectic shopping and preparations. (Been there, too numerous to count!)  Take it from someone who is living too far away to be there, Christmas is family and friends. Don't sweat the small stuff. Savour the real joys of the season and know you are blessed to be able to share the day, the week, the year, with friends and family who love you and you them.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
love Paul and Katherine

A Christening in Addis

As most of you already know, Aynalem gave birth to a healthy baby boy October 4, 2014. Michael (aka Mickey) came into the world around 4 pm, after more than 12 hours of labour and weighed in at 3.4 kgs (7.5 pounds).  We felt very honoured to be there within 30 minutes of his birth.

Our day began at 4 am with a call from Aynalem. Since Aynalem was already 10 days late (due September 24th) when my cell phone went off at 4 am, I was certain I knew the reason for her call.  I remember turning to Paul and saying in a very excited voice, "It's Aynalem! We know what this means. It's Go time!"  In my excitement I dropped the phone and then inadvertently disconnected the call.  When I called back, all I got was a busy tone. I raced downstairs and outside and seeing Aynalem, slowly walking about, left little doubt that this time she was in labour.  Ironically, the Saturday before we had had a 'trial' run to the hospital. That night it was around 8:30 pm and Aynalem 'thought' she was in labour. We made the quick drive to the hospital and waited for a few hours while Aynalem was examined it was determined that this was false labour, aka Braxton Hicks. This time Aynalem was determined to be sure, so (we learned later) she had been walking around since midnight (in pain) and only called us at 4 am when she was certain that this time she was in labour! At least with the trial run from the week before, we knew exactly where to go. The same nurse was on duty and after no time I recall her smiling at me and saying,"this is true labour". Aynalem's face and her slow measured walk confirmed the diagnosis. We stayed until we had her 'comfortably' settled into the labour room.  Knowing from experience that this could take awhile, Paul and I returned home and I'd say by 6 am we were both fast asleep.

We returned back to the hospital around noon to check on Aynalem, but she was still in labour. Judging by her body language I felt it wouldn't be much longer. We received the call at 3:50 announcing that Mickey had made his appearance.  We rushed over and there he was. So small and so perfect and his eyes were open and he looked so alert.

Baby Mickey

Just home from the hospital

Although the delivery was pretty standard (Ha! easy to talk about after!), Aynalem still had to spend the night at the hospital. This is a private hospital and they were very accommodating as they allowed Baraket, her mum and her brother Teddy to stay overnight.  Next day, around 10;30 am, Paul and I went to pick up the family and bring them home.

Ethiopian tradition states that a baby is christened 40 days after the birth, regardless of when the day falls. Mickey's christening date landed on Wednesday, November 12, 2014. Since Wednesday is a fasting day (no meat or dairy) Aynalem chose to have a celebration dinner the night before so that everyone could partake in meat and dairy.  I ordered an ice cream cake to celebrate the event. Aynalem cooked up a lovely, traditional meal, followed by a cultural coffee ceremony. Ice cream cake was our ferenji contribution!

Next morning the christening was scheduled for 11:30 am. I think I've mentioned that in Ethiopia it's a cultural phenomenon that nothing starts on time. The wedding reception Paul and I recently attended was supposed to have started at 12:30. We were advised not to come before 1:30, yet still the wedding party only arrived close to 3.  Nevertheless we got to the church close to 11:30 and then we were asked to sit in a room, with a large ceramic tub (font).  There were 2 other babies being christened and with family members, etc the room was beginning to get warm. The door was left open, as well as the window, so there was a breeze. I suspect I was just not use to wearing the requisite scarf/shawl. Paul had been asked to be the Godfather, so regardless of the heat, or the standing or the waiting, we weren't going to miss this event.

Finally the priests (there were 4 of them), wearing green and gold robes began the ceremony. There were lots of prayers, chanting, responses and waving of  the incense thurible (a metal censer suspended from chains), but since it was all in Amharic, Paul and I just mutely followed along. When it came time to actually baptise the babies, we didn't require any translation. The setting and the service though culturally so different from home was in the end, surprisingly 'similar'. The priest followed the same process which each of the three babies. When it was Mickey's turn, he took him from Aynalem and walked around the room chanting while holding Mickey up in 'Lion King' fashion. Once Mickey had been paraded about the priest then held him over the tub and with the assistance of another priest signed him with the cross and anointed his head, arms and feet with oil.  Mickey was excellent when all this going on, but when a pitcher of water (no idea if it was hot or cold) was literally poured over his entire naked body, he had had enough! He let out a cry, I think more in surprise, as the Priest continued to chant.  Mickey settled down almost immediately, as he seemed comforted by the Priest's voice. Then it was over and  Mickey was handed over to Paul who was holding a quilted hoodie blanket provided for the occasion.  Paul went to wrap him up, but not before Mickey usurped the solemness of the occasion by deciding at that moment to pee.

There were similarities and differences, but the meaning behind the ceremony was universal. We took pictures and enjoyed holding and admiring Mickey, just as the other family members of the other two babies were doing.  Like I said, so very similar.

Get ready Mickey, here it comes!

Mickey's looking to see what's coming next.

Just grin and bear it cuz it's almost over.

The Priest ties a braided necklace around Mickey's neck.

Little Angel.

Proud Godfather Paul

Mickey in the bouncy chair we bought as a christening gift.

How cute is our Godson??

Roadtrip to Awassa

It's Sunday, November 9th and Paul and I are waiting for our driver Robel to arrive.  He will be driving us, along with Sacha and Greg (her hubby) to Awassa. It's around a 4.5 hr drive so we should be arriving there close to 6 pm.  We'll be staying at the Haile Resort where Paul has been before and it's supposed to be quite nice. This is a business trip for Sacha and Paul, but for Greg and me it will be yet another opportunity to enjoy the sights and sounds of Ethiopia.  Greg is quite the avid cyclist
so I suspect tomorrow he will be cycling around Awassa, while I will be content to stay poolside.  I could do some touring with Robel while Paul and Sacha are at the Regional office, but for now I'll just play it by ear.

The trip as predicted took closer to 4.5 hrs. We took the 3 lane toll highway which is newly opened, from the outskirts of Addis to Mojo. It's a distance of  around 50 kms and continues on to Adama. The approach to the highway is slow, dusty and crowded. It reminds me a bit of the Pickering approach from the 401 to the 407, minus the pedestrians, cows and goats. You waste so much time getting to the highway that you begin questioning whether it was worth it. The 407 in my experience is definitely worth it despite the extra expense. The toll here is considered expensive (35 birr or @ $1.75) and traffic is minimal, but if only the approaches and exits could be improved.

We arrived at the Haile Resort and were greeted by 5 Star service; a very nice hotel by any standard. The resort lies on the shores of Lake Hawassa and the view from our balcony was very picturesque. The gardens are pretty and while enjoying the comfortable chairs scattered throughout you are offered another view of the lake. There is a large outdoor infinity pool and a children's wading pool. As soon as the sun sets, however, the mosquitoes come out and they are not to be trifled with. The elevation of Addis affords little intrusion from mosquitoes, but once you leave Addis you are advised to take your malaria pills. We did! Our room was equally impressive from the terracotta tiled floor, matching accessories, comfortable bed (for once!!),  large bathroom and sliding doors leading out to a balcony. Even the flat screen TV (decent size) offered pretty good channel selection.  And the WIFI worked perfectly, whether you were in your room or comfortably seated in the lounge.  The hotel also had Spa services, numerous stores (notably, nice Ethiopian leather goods!) and a good restaurant.  Al in all this was a very nice Hotel and our 2 nights there were very comfortable indeed.

The next day Paul and Sacha went to their meeting at the Regional office. Greg didn't go cycling, but had scheduled a tennis game to play. Awassa is warmer than Addis, but it's still very comfortable. It doesn't have the extreme heat of Afar. Temperatures in Afar, while we were enjoying 26 - 28 C were closer to  45 C. I spent the morning enjoying the warm sunshine and sitting in the beautiful gardens. Around 1 pm Robel came and picked up Greg and I and we joined Paul, Sacha and Seleshe (Regional Leader) for lunch. Yummy lamb tibs (like spare ribs) and bread and injera, followed by some traditional coffee.

Haile Resort, Awassa

View down the driveway

Pretty entrance

View from our balcony

Pool, too green for my liking! 

Lake Awassa in the background

Beautiful garden and trees

There are hippos out there, but I didn't see any!

The rest of the day, after finishing off lunch with a visit to a local 'coffee' shop, was spent relaxing in the picturesque gardens of the Haile Resort and in their comfortable lounge. I was revelling in the uninterrupted WIFI service. WIFI in Ethiopia is often the source of much frustration. At our home we had been without WIFI for the past few weeks, despite a barrage of calls from Meseret (Paul's Admin).  It would seem that Customer Service in Ethiopia is not 'job number 1'.  It doesn't carry the same weight as it does in North America. I recall not so long ago when Blackberry went down for 1 day. They fell all over themselves to provide 'compensation' for the inconvenience. Not so in Ethiopia!  You can complain, and in fact, Ethio Tel encourages you to register your complaint, but it doesn't seem to do any good. Service comes back on its own time line. Paul said to Meseret that we were considering not paying Ethio Tel seeing as we were not receiving the service we were paying for. She looked shocked that Paul would even suggest such a course of action. Nope, just keep paying because it actually could be worse?  I wonder about that!

Staying at the Haile was a relaxing interlude and reaffirmed my belief that there is such a thing as 5 Star Hotels in Ethiopia. After my visit to Afar I was in doubt, but no longer after two nights at the Haile. Paul and I are going to Paradise Lodge in Arba Minch for Christmas, so I'm hoping all the hype about that place is true and 5 or 4 Star prevails.

We were up early the next morning as both Paul and Sacha had meetings in Addis.  We drove back a different way, avoiding the new super highway, in favour of a more scenic drive.  Driving because of the 'quality' of roads in Ethiopia isn't the most relaxing, but it's always an adventure. Roads are equally shared by vehicles, pedestrians and livestock. Driving in Ethiopia provides a whole  new dimension to the term 'defensive driving'. You really never know what is going to come at you, so being alert and aware are your constant companions. Fortunately on these long trips we have a driver, Robel, who makes it look so easy.  He does such an amazing and competent job that all that is left for us passengers is to enjoy the spectacular view. We arrived home, early afternoon which gave me ample time to drive to the Italian Bakery to pick up a cake I had ordered for Mickey's pre-christening dinner with Aynalem, Baraket, her mum, Temesgen and of course Baby Mickey.

See next Blog for details on Mickey's christening.

Paul's Business Trip to Afar Region

I accompanied Paul on a 2-day business trip to the Afar region.  Afar region is a 50 minute plane ride to the North-Eastern part of Ethiopia.  It's northern area borders Djibouti, which is the port where our Rav-4 landed after leaving Montreal on it's 8 week journey to Africa. Djibouti is an extremely busy port as evidenced by the steady stream of container laden trucks that originate there and head for Ethiopia and other parts of Africa. These trucks clog up the roads, similar to the way the 401 is always packed with trucks; except roads here are narrow so  passing is not always an option.

The 2 day Resilience Conference was held in the new capital in the recently constructed city of Semara.  It's an interesting concept that they built this Government town so that there was place for the seat of government. It consists of mostly governmental buildings, but most people live miles outside the Capital. How new is new?  Well let's just say that as we were landing I remarked to Paul that it must be pretty windy because there was a lot of sand blown across the airport runway,  It was only when we exited the plane and began to walk to the 'airport' that I realised that the runway was not paved and consisted of sand, gravel and dirt. Paul said it reminded him of runways in the early 60's when he and his family travelled in the Congo. Amazing how little has changed, though Paul felt the use of steel drums in the 60's to outline the perimeter of the runway were more 'technologically advanced' than the white painted boulders used by Semera's airport  The 'airport' consisted of  one large room for check in, security checks and seating for those passengers waiting to board once we had deplaned.  An Ethiopian Air Land Cruiser drove out the outgoing luggage and once they had made the switch drove over to where we were all standing. We were handed our respective bags from the back of their truck. Who needs a long wait watching your bag circle past on a conveyor belt? The airport is extremely new so who knows if in time this will change, but for now it's primitive, but it works.

We were met by one of Paul's Team Leaders, Habtu from Mekele and his driver, Girma.  There were a number of people on our flight from Addis who were also attending this two day conference.  We were able to easily identify them as they, like us were met by Land Cruisers. Paul says in the development world Toyota has made quite the mark. Where you see Land Cruisers you are sure to find donor agencies, NGOs, government counterparts, and project leaders all connected to development. You've heard the expression "Gaggle of Geese", well here in the development world it's called "Obscenity of Land Cruisers".  They were all lined up (UN, UNESCO, Save the Children, US Aid, Italian Aid, GTZ and SNSF, just to name a few), waiting for their passengers!

The hotel wasn't far from the airport so we went there first to drop off our luggage. Afar (just for reference) ranks as one of the hottest places on Earth, yet this time of year is considered their COOL season! Really? What a contrast from the cool, dry heat of Addis. It was 9 am and already the temperatures (26 - 28 C) exceeded any day in Addis. Afar region is also predominantly Muslim so tank tops aren't recommended, though I did compromise by wearing cap sleeves. I have no idea how women in the area stay cool wrapped in layers and layers of cloth.

The agenda for the day was to load up the numerous Land Cruisers and head out on a field trip to various community development initiatives.  The 'sightseeing groups' were divided into 2 convoys of between 8 and 10 Land Cruisers. Our convoy group began with around a sixty minute drive to a Dairy Co-op in Aysaita.  We were invited inside their Co-op and offered fresh milk, cheese and yogurt and their traditional bread. It was all very good, but since I don't drink milk I declined trying it beyond a sip of Paul's. It tasted fine, if that's your thing.  The Co-op sells the milk received from local pastoralists and they sell enough to sustain themselves, their families and turn a profit. Questions from the group of donor agencies were basic SWOT queries (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats). The Assistant Chairperson, a young girl in her early twenties, seemed more comfortable in a behind the scenes role, but nevertheless she answered all the questions through an interpreter. Pasteurisation isn't in place here, so it was good to hear that they sell everything produced daily and there is little to no spoilage. Sure, it wouldn't pass North American production standards, but it appears to work here. TIA. 

From the Co-op we drove a short distance to look at newly created re-forestation site. This initiative is attempting to grow indigenous trees that can help ward off the invasive effects of the prosopis weed. In the Afar Region in Ethiopia, prosopis, a kind of  mesquite, was introduced in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Little was it known at that time that the  aggressive growth of prosopis would lead to a monoculture, denying native plants water and sunlight, and not providing food for native animals and cattle. The Regional government with the non-governmental organisation FARM-Africa are looking for ways to commercialise the tree's wood, but pastoralists who call it the "Devil Tree" insist that it be eradicated. Like the invasive nature of the purple loose strife in Ontario, prosopis are quite widespread and this re-forestation is one such initiative, though in very early days, attempting to address the problem.

We had lunch at a local 'hotel'. I use the term lightly as there was no evident building and the eating was all outdoors. It appears for a good price you can get accommodation under the stars. For the really intrepid, there are of course nets for these outdoor beds.  Food on the other hand was very good. It was buffet style and all traditional Ethiopian fare. This 'hotel' also boasted a lovely view, when you climbed the stairs and went past the open concept 'bedrooms'.

Water draining from Awash River

'Hotel' with a view

Following lunch we continued our journey to a Date Palm grove. Am I the only one who didn't know that dates come from palm trees? Really?

Date Palm Grove

Paul and his 'dates'

After the palms we went to the Tendaho Sugar Factory. This factory is in its first phase and we were shown the plans for the second phase. As it stands the overall footprint encompasses a very large area and despite the fact that phase 2 is still under construction, they are churning out impressive amounts of sugar. 85% of the labor force is local so this factory is a big boom for the area.

Tendaho Sugar Factory

Sugar Factory, Afar Region

Not me ......check out the Sugar Factory

Phase 1 and 2

After a lovely and tiring day of interesting sights we returned to the Agda Hotel. The workshop is being held here as well and since this place is brand new and rated a 5 Star Paul chose for us to stay here. I should also preface this by saying that unfortunately Ethiopians don't seem to understand the 5 Star rating concept.  The place has only 'just' opened so I am hoping that because everything is not quite finished that it might get better, though I doubt it.  They have a huge pool area, with another building which I assume will hold the spa services, but it's not ready and the pool has no water. No worries, I didn't bring my bathing suit anyways. Afar is  so incredibly hot and it was hard to believe that this is actually their 'cold' season. Apparently tempertaures can rise to the 40's. That pool, in time, will be very nice. The rooms themselves are very basic, but clean and there is a ceiling fan and a/c which both work well and are definitely needed.The bathroom is modern and sleek with nice tiles and it's a good size. The Queen bed has a nice wooden frame, but I think they may have used left over wood to line the mattress. Yo, it's like sleeping on a wooden plank. I like a firm mattress (with my pillow top), but this is extreme. We still slept well, cuz we were so tired after our day's adventures.  

The last adventure of our day was one we had over dinner.  Afar is 250 kms from Addis, but it is a world away. They even speak their own dialect (Afar). We were told that it is similar to Amharic, but it really makes little difference to us since we speak neither.  The hotel staff, I am assuming, consider fair is fair because they don't seem to speak or understand English. You should have seen us trying to get another towel for our room. Pantomime and charades at it's worse and we eventually had to resort to 'Show and Tell'.   When we went to the lounge to quench our thirsts after a long and dusty day, ordering a few beers was easy enough.  Our experience ordering dinner would prove quite challenging.  We were told (according to the itinerary) that our group would be on the 2nd floor. We go up but it's empty. We go back down to the other dining area and ask where our group is. The answer we're given is equally unclear since we're speaking English and they are speaking Afar.We see a few people from our group scattered at a few other tables so Paul and I decide to just grab a table and order. We sit down and after 5 minutes we have to get someone's attention and ask for a menu. They ask, "2 menus?" We say, yes and they bring us 1...............so it begins.  We ordered fried chicken and a breast of chicken from the offered menu.  They come back 15 minutes later and we're told that they have neither of our choices. Okay, what do you have? Can I have a 1/2 chicken roasted? Yes. And Paul will have the fish goulash. Seemed simple enough since we've pointed to the menu choices, and stated our choices, albeit in unintelligible English.  She comes back over 15 minutes later and asks me,"Do you want a whole chicken roasted or a 1/2 chicken"?  To be fair the menu does have both options, but I had specifically pointed and said 1/2 chicken. So I say, yes, 1/2 chicken. Two she says. No, what?  No just ONE 1/2 chicken roasted.  Anyways, and I'm not exaggerating, 1 hr later my chicken arrives, looking very good and she sets the plate down and walks away. I look down and I have no cutlery or napkins. We call her over and ask for cutlery. My bad cuz we only said cutlery so I had to make do without a napkin. At this point Paul asks her if his fish goulash is still coming.  Oh yes as she nods her head. She nods her head, but that could have been yes or it could have been a mild form of tourette syndrome. What was becoming abundantly clear was that when we spoke, I honestly think it was the equivalent of adults speaking on a Charlie Brown cartoon. They appear to be trying so hard to be helpful, but the end result is just plain frustrating. So I'm eating and Paul's watching. It was a lot of chicken, which was delicious, but everything else, rice, sliced potato, spinach and carrots were all cold. So then the girl comes back around 15 minutes later and starts to ask Paul about his fish goulash. Paul heard 'fish" and by this point he almost lost it. We've been  there over an hour and they are still trying to figure out his order?  Are you kidding me?  Needless to say, Paul said to forget it and not bother with his order. There was still enough on my plate for two. After enduring this whole ordeal we had lost our appetites and almost the desire to live. 

The next day was a workshop which wasn't necessary for me to attend. There were over 200 attendees, so pretty sure they didn't miss me and I was able to catch a few extra zzzz's in the morning. Paul came back to the room at noon and said that there was a break for prayers, followed by a lunch on the second floor.  Fortunately the lunch was buffet style so there was no waiting or chance of confusing the servers. Food was again traditional Ethiopian fare, but with an added twist.  Tables were set with cutlery!!  I was able to pick my dishes and not have to include injera or bread. I find injera just unnecessarily fills you up. Having the use of cutlery meant that injera wasn't needed to pick up your food. Don't get me wrong, I have become quite adept at eating with injera, but IF given a choice ...........!

That evening there was a cultural night of food, song and dance.  The hotel clearly lacks imagination because the menu was the same buffet style, but at least we were still given access to cutlery. I like Ethiopian food, it's very tasty, but not for every meal, 2 days in a row. Then the music started, cultural dancing, poetry readings, etc. It would have been even more meaningful had we understood what was being said, but it was still an enjoyable evening. Yayo, Paul's Technical Assistant (TA) in the Afar region was so helpful as he made a good effort to translate some songs and poems. The night was drawing to a close and the main organiser, Aisha gave the closing remarks. She is the Director of the Food Security Co-ordination Office and is proficient in English, Afar and Amharic,  She presented a framed picture of two scimitars to representatives from the donor agencies that had attended the conference. She was nearing the end of the framed pictures when she announced that she would like to thank a very special guest, who when invited to attend, answered immediately and also sought permission to have his wife attend as well. I looked around wondering who the other couple was, until Aisha said, "welcome Paul Derksen from SNSF and his wife Katherine."  We went to the front of the room and we were both presented and wrapped in traditional marriage clothing.  I have learned during my time in Ethiopia that the SNSF project is highly recognised and respected. This was a bit embarrassing, but 'whatcha gonna do'?

Marital robes, Afar style

Okay so it kind of clashes, but it's the thought that counts!

So the last order of business was our flight home the next morning.  It may not be much of an 'airport', but they have adopted the typical strict Ethiopian airport security. We were part of a long convoy of Land Cruisers approaching the first check point before being admitted to the parking area. Paul and I, along with the rest of the attendees had to show our tickets and our residency ID.  Once at the airport we sat in a row of chairs that lined the wall or stood outside the front entrance.  We waited until the police, who perform airport security, called us for check in. I was called first because a female police officer had arrived so that now female passengers could be 'inspected'. Inside was a long table where your bags were meticulously searched. They make up for the fact that they have no scanner, by being overly diligent. Paul had the suitcase so my police woman only had my computer bag and purse to check. Paul, who's check in began after mine, still finished ahead of me.  She looked through 'everything"!  I had a notebook in my computer bag and she flipped through every single page. Seriously, what was she looking for on those blank pages?  She opens my wallet and goes through the bills, the coin, the works. Just when I thought it was over she motions for me to follow her into another small room. I would have preferred, if available, a full body scan!  I didn't have to strip, but she was pretty through, right down to snapping my bra. Oh well, this isn't the most sophisticated airport, but they take security very seriously.  

After check in we sat in the departure 'lounge', until it was time for us to walk down the 'runway' to board our flight.  There ended up being  over a 1 hour  delay. After all the passengers had completed the rigorous check in process, one gentleman suddenly stood up and walked off the plane. I guess he must have been on the wrong flight, which is hard to understand since there was only one flight scheduled! 

We arrived back in Addis later that morning and despite the delay a Land Cruiser was waiting at the other end. Thanks Robel!

We're still living life in Ethiopia!!

The development project Paul has been attached to for the last four years was scheduled to conclude September 30, 2014. SNSF (Safety Net Support Facility) is a project funded by CIDA (aka DFATD). The purpose of the project is to work closely with the Ethiopian government to help them deliver the productive safety net program more effectively. The PSNP (a huge, 2 billion dollar initiative in its 5th year) is a social safety net program designed to address the needs of vulnerable and disadvantaged groups within society; specifically, those suffering from chronic food insecurity. This is suppose to address the scenario of starving children in Ethiopia that most people associate with this country. SNSF has met with huge success and from the time Paul arrived here in March 2013, he was being assured by CIDA, Government counterparts and other donor groups aided by World Bank, that SNSF's initiatives and successes were too important and had to continue to be implemented. This sentiment was equally shared by the amazing and talented employees of SNSF in 8 regions of Ethiopia and government officials who had benefited from capacity development workshops and seminars facilitated by Paul's strong group of Team Leaders and Specialists. It was the exemplary work of SNSF  that has given rise to the reality that there will be a SNSF Part 2. The only problem is that the next phase is still in the 'developing' stage.  The concept of  "SNSF" will be incorporated into the next PSNP,  but this will involve another bidding process and all this takes time. World Bank proposed a Bridge with the sole intension that the Bridge would allow a seamless transition from the end of SNSF to the beginning of the next Project which Agriteam has a strong chance of winning. The theory was great, the timing was not.  Agriteam, as the drivers of SNSF had to bid for the chance to run the Bridge. What should have been a slam dunk became a long and drawn out process. The end result after over 8 months of delays and excuses: Agriteam was awarded the right to continue the work that had gained them so many accolades, positive results and feedback. Oh well, it was gratifying to know that despite the bidding and proposal process, the best 'team' (Agriteam) won!

So we're still here, (Paul, Lexxie and I) living in Addis Ababa and guaranteed to be here until at least June 30, 2015. What will happen after that, given how long it took to get the Bridge approved is anyone's guess.  We're just happy for now that our living arrangements are settled, decided and it all worked out.

On an extremely happy note and in keeping with Paul's philosophy (and Daylan's too) that 'things have a way of working out', we are proud to announce the birth of Michael Baracat, born October 4, 2014. Had we gone home in September we would have missed the opportunity of welcoming Aynalem's (our housekeeper) and Baracat's first baby.  Things could not have worked out better!

Michael, AKA Mickey

Paul's a natural

14 days old and growing

Thank Goodness Lexxie is keeping an eye on things!

What I did on my summer holidays!

I arrived in Ottawa July 23, 2014 and after weeks of visiting and travelling and enjoying the company of family and friends, August 23rd marked my return.  It was a good thing that prior to my trip I drew up an itinerary which helped ensure that I was able to see and do everything I planned. It's crazy, but after being away a year there are so many family and friends you want to see and with everyone not living in Ottawa it also involved some travel. I love to travel so that was no problem at all. Gail has a nice, brand new Highlander so we were able to comfortably motor here, there and everywhere. 

I began my trip with dinner out with friends I have known since childhood. We grew up together on the same street: Mayfield in Chomedy, Laval.  Though we attended each other’s wedding back in the day, time and distance kept us apart. About 2 years ago Diane Baker Foley was very diligent in tracking me down and together with Debbie Donaldson Tylee we have rekindled a friendship that spans decades. We get together for dinner and non-stop talking. After a year in Ethiopia I had lots to share and it was so enjoyable catching up on each others lives. Diane also included two girls that were also in fellow Chomedy-ites (Janice and Donna) and with my sister too, we laughed and laughed over some pretty hilarious conversations. I swear Donna could do stand up. She was that funny.

We (Gail, Brooke, Janet and I) went to Toronto for the August long weekend and spent a glorious 5 days shopping, entertaining and enjoying the comforts Chez Palgrave. Breakfast under the gazebo or sitting poolside and later in the evening enjoying the wood burning stove while talking and sharing time with family and friends.  I was happy to see JoJo, first time since our African safari adventure, and to meet Rob, who I had first learned about when Jojo visited us in Ethiopia. In Toronto we also got to see Derrick and his boys. Wayne and Patti were in NY over the long weekend so though we briefly saw Patti on the morning we were heading home, we would only see Wayne on our next trip.

Back in Ottawa Janet and I made plans to go to Norway Bay (near Shawville) for a couple of days to visit our good friends Kathy and Gord Black.  The consummate hosts, Gord and Kathy made sure our wine glasses were kept full, the shrimp cooked to perfection, salads GF approved and snackies that kept us going into the wee hours of the morning. Kathy and Gord have a beautiful home overlooking the Ottawa River and spending time with them is always a highlight. Gord made of point, more than once, of also extending an invitation to their home in Florida (Port Charlotte) and Paul says we have to make this one of our to dos. No argument here!

Gail, Brooke and I didn't sit still long before we decided to give the Highlander a good run and drove 10 hours to Timmins. I hadn't seen Reece since she was a baby and I'd only seen pictures of Scott and Caelen's lovely home.  It was so wonderful to see Reece all grown up (all 20 months of her!!) walking, running, talking and always smiling. She's such a happy child and why not? She has parents that dote on her, an aunt, uncle and two cousins and grandparents just around the corner and of course Sushi (American bulldog!). There's an amazing lake nearby with a boardwalk and it was so enjoyable to walk there, en famille, and experience Reece's excitement over the feeding of the ducks. 

We had such a good visit! We left Timmins and went home via Toronto. We over-nighted at Derrick's home in Woodbridge. Patti and Wayne had a BBQ at their home, which is like 1 km from Derrick's, an unbelievably short distance when you consider how big Toronto is and typically how far apart everyone lives. Rob, Doris and Barrett were there as well so it was good to see everyone again. The following morning we headed back to Ottawa, BUT not before Jojo dropped off Allison. Al, too was making a trip home after a year in the UK. She flew in via Toronto and we had arranged to take her the rest of the way.  I'd seen Al in May when we met up in Greece, but seeing your first born just never gets old.  I could hardly wait for the two sisters to be re-united later that day!

My next travel was to Watertown, NY with Janet, Doris and Jan's Mum, Robin.  Doris and Barrett drove to Ottawa Friday night and Saturday morning we (Janet driving her mum's SUV) were on the road again. Watertown has become quite a tradition with Janet and me and we were happy to include Doris who over the years (our famous Shop to you Drop weekends!) has become the 3rd member of our Shop Ops Adventures. Watertown proved no different. We managed to find bargains, exclusive items to the States, consume good eats, lots of laughter and conversation and all be closing time. The drive home was lively as we had to be sure Janet stayed alert and awake. We arrived home close to 1:30 am.

While in Ottawa, I was there for Daylan's 23rd birthday. Paul of course would have loved to be there, but that will have to wait. (More on that to follow in later blogs!!) In his stead we celebrated Daylan's b'day at Gail's with a BBQ. The Girls were all there (Allison, Aleysha, Jenn and Brooke). The only missing 'girl' was Lexxie! No summer birthday would be complete without a DQ Blizzard Cake. Needless to say we were all quite satisfied!

My last night in Ottawa, Gail and I were invited to Janet and Mark's for a farewell BBQ. Kathy and Gord were also there.  I couldn't have asked for a better send off. I am so thankful for my very good friends and currently living so far away, I really value the time I have to spend with them.

It had been a hectic month of dinners out with childhood friends, travelling, shopping and visiting family and friends, quiet nights with just me and my sister, spending time with Al and Jenn, (just like old times) and even going in to the Citizen to take care of 'work' details. And yet when the day came to return to Addis I was still unable to answer this question, with any degree of certainty: "When will you be returning for good to Canada"?

My long overdue trip home and my blog!

I began this blog the day before flying home, July 25th, so I owe it to myself and my readers to finish it before my next trip!  Here goes:

Well it's been a year so it's time for a visit home.  When I came to Ethiopia it was a lot cheaper to book a return trip ticket. Since then, the possibility of a visit home has been ever so tempting.  The only stipulation was that the ticket needed to be used before July 27, 2014. Well I'm booked to leave tomorrow evening, July 21 at 10:40 pm.  By 10:30 am, July 22/14 I should be in Ottawa.  Paul will not be accompanying me as he is busy, busy writing two proposals. That's the only down side of what should be a wonderful trip.

My return trip home proceeded with minimal disruption by Ethiopian standards.  Paul took me to the airport and as if entering the Addis Airport doesn't have enough rules and regulations, they've added a new one. To enter the airport you must go through a metal detector and your luggage goes through a scanner. Typically if you want to enter the airport, but are not flying you need to buy a ticket at booths outside the airport which either have long, riduculous lines or are just not open.  We've never needed the tickets on those occasions when one of us aren't travelling because our Canadian Embassy Residency cards usually do the trick.  Of course this time due to Ethiopia's ever changing rules, Paul wasn't allowed to accompany me to check in.  Annoying!  Fortunately the lines were relatively short so I was able to check my two bags in pretty good time and then proceed to Immigration. There are so many steps to follow before actually reaching your gate. They all involve taking off your shoes, coat, belt,  being subjected to yet another metal detector,  having your carry on scanned and showing your boarding pass and passport. It's a miracle that you don't lose something because by time you reach the gate area, you have to do it all again. Then when you finally reach the gate you have to line up, again, at the gate reception desk to then show your boarding pass and passport. I mean seriously people, how did you think I would have reached this far had I NOT gone through the tedious and repeitive airport procedures to this point? And if anyone has ever had the pleasure of being in an Ethiopian line, you'll understand that 'line up protocol' is severely lacking. No wonder drivers never stay in their lanes. If there's an 'opening' take it. Buttinskis rule!  But I'm getting off topic, back to boarding! Just when you think you can safely put away your boarding pass and passport they announce that we're boarding and you have to show it, Again!  In Ethiopia you are advised to be at the airport 3 hours before your flight. The first time I was told that I just laughed, seriously! After a year of travelling and frequently using the Addis Airport, I just 'groan'.

The flight home with Ethiopian Air was long, but they treat you very well. So well in fact that they feel it's their obligation to wake you to offer you more food.  The flight took off at 10:50 pm so why in the next 30 minutes would I require a full dinner? All in all it's not all that bad as at least eating or stirring your food around passes the time. The wine isn't half bad. I use it to help induce sleep! Seriously.  I arrived in Toronto right on time at 7:30 AM the following morning.  I was flying on Ethiopian Air's Dreamliner 787. It is a really confortable plane considering the length of time the flight takes. It also holds a lot of passengers and the flight was full. Customs went pretty smoothly though I was prepared to answer how I, Katherine Gabel, Mad Shopper, had nothing to declare after a year in Ethiopia. Have you been there? Fortunately the Custom's Officer wasn't aware of my Shop Ops tendencies and I breezed through.  I rushed to the baggage claim as I began to suspect by 9:10 AM connecting flight to Ottawa might be in jeopardy,  Alas, why did I rush over to the baggage carousel only to watch the luggage of every other passenger circle around and around. By time I retrieved my bags it was @ 8:10 and I was feeling optimistic about making my Ottawa connection. Oh yeah, that was until I reached the connecting flight's conveyor belt.  I was about to place my luggage on the belt when I was asked where I was flying from. Addis Ababa, I replied, Oh, says the A/C attendant, your luggage will have to be re-scanned because of where you are flying from. I asked if this was a new procedure since this didn't happen when I had flown in April.  No she says, but they don't scan 'properly' in Addis and the scanners for connecting luggage isn't sophisticated enough so you'll have to take your luggage up to the 3rd floor for check in and scanning. ARE you kidding me?  Well needless to say WHO am I to argue with that kind of logic? But seriously, have you been to an Ethiopian Airport? Scanning is what they do and alot of it!! Anyways my 9:10 am flight was lost and the A/C attendent graciously booked me on the 10:10 am flight, charged me $75 for a flight change fee and $20 A/C charge for my second bag. I had been in Canada less than 30 minutes, had spent @ $100, but the good news was, I was able to use my Visa, a card that has little or no use in the cash driven Ethiopia!

So I delayed my re-union with my sister Gail and my daughter Jennifer by 1 hour, but thanks to the beauty of phone texting they weren't too inconvenienced.

It was an amazing feeling coming down the escalator and seeing my sister standing there (crying) and my daughter holding a sign that read "Ma! Where's the meatloaf?"   I had arrived!

Spending Time in Ethiopia

It's almost a year since I boarded a plane to come to Addis Ababa. I find it hard to believe how quickly time has passed. I recall Paul being some what anxious that I would come to Ethiopia and be bored or unhappy. To that sentiment I respond, "Who had time to be either"? I have enjoyed the past year and lived my experience abroad to the fullest.  I have kept myself active and engaged and it should come as no surprise to those who have kept up with my blog: busy!

I was only in Addis a couple of weeks when Paul forwarded me an email advertising for a English tutor.  I called the number and arranged to meet Elisabetta and her 4 year old daughter Anna. That meeting was the start of an almost 1 year tutoring gig with the brightest, most precocious child I could have imagined. What an opportunity to bring words to life through conversations, games, stories, coloring, and creative fun that can only stem from the imaginations of a  four year old and a young at heart 50 something. Anna and I enjoyed our time together and along the way I do believe her English improved.  Anna and her mum, Elisabetta will soon be moving to Geneva. Elisabetta will be working for the UN and Anna, I have little doubt, will be adding French to her language repertoire.  I will miss her, but will continue to relish the memories of the past year.

Munchkin Memories

M&Ms with Anna 

My Little Munchkin

Future Talents was another teaching opportunity that came my way during my first month in Ethiopia.While
still in Ottawa I established a teaching contact in Ethiopia when I noticed ESL teaching references on the Facebook page of 'What's Happening in Addis.' I forwarded my resume and promised to get in touch once I was settled. My contact then put me in contact with an administrator at the school Future Talents.  They were looking for an native English speaking teacher for pre-school, and 4 year old kindergarden.  Wow! Just like that I was in the position to be fully employed. The timing wasn't right as I wasn't ready to devote full time hours to such a structured and demanding teaching environment.  I was still learning the city, I didn't have my driver's license as yet and I didn't want to rule out travelling by being tied down to full time employment.  I declined the teaching offer and decided to remain with only tutoring Anna. I never once regretted my decision. In fact, in early May Future Talents called me again to ask if I was still interested in working with them. Who knows what the future holds, but it certainly is nice to have options.

So aside from tutoring Anna what else did I do to occupy my time? Well for all my loyal blog followers, you will have read that I have done a fair amount of travelling.  I've accompanied Paul to many parts of Ethiopia including Bahar Dar, Debre Libanos, Entoto Mountains, Dire Dawa, Jijiga, Sodo and Lake Langano.  I still hope to head North to witness evidence of  Ethiopia's rich  history in Aksum, Mekele and Lalibela, but that will have to wait, for now. I visited Allison in the UK and spent three wonderful weeks with Allison and Kat exploring the sights. Paul and I went on a four day weekend to shop for Christmas decorations amid the sights and splendour of Paris. An African safari in Tanzania with our children,Wayne and Jojo rounded out 2013. In May we took a 2 week vacation to Greece. An amazing opportunity to catch up with family and friends.  In two weeks time I will be travelling home to Ottawa for a 4 week visit.

In between travelling, tutoring and blogging I have enjoyed the simple pleasure of reading. When you're working life gets so busy, that there doesn't seem to be enough time to just sit back and read. I've enjoyed my Kobo immensely. The availability of online ebooks (free, as well as purchased ones) has afforded me endless hours of enjoyment.  One of my fondest memories of home was going to the cottage at Hay Lake where all of us would sit on the dock and indulge in our love for reading.  Now I have the time to indulge whenever I please.

During my time in Ethiopia I've also gained a greater appreciation and understanding of Paul's work. Paul has included me in his work by inviting me to accompany him on business trips and involving me in the editing of work documents. I love editing, probably as much as I love reading.  I just switch genres from fiction to a real-life appreciation of the incredible work SNSF (Safety Net Support Facility) is doing and accomplishing in Ethiopia. Whether I am editing manuals or real-life success stories, I feel I am helping bring clarity to the role SNSF plays in changing the lives of the disadvantaged in Ethiopia.

But even though I'm not technically 'working', I really look forward to late afternoon on a Friday. Nothing rivals the beginning of the weekend, regardless of your employment status. For me it marks the beginning of time off for Paul and our weekend together. Woot! A typical weekend includes groceries, running errands, attending Bazaars, shopping, playing tennis or golf and eating out. We've dined out with friends and hosted some get togethers of our own. While I enjoy all my time, I love the exclusivity of weekends. It's all about me and Paul and whatever comes our way.  Ooops, gotta go, Paul's home and the weekend has begun!

Our Big Greek Adventure

Greece was an opportunity to meet up with family and friends and we could not of chosen a more idyllic and memorable location.

View of the Acropolis from our hotel in Athens!

Parthenon adds the Greek touch to this photo of my fellow travellers and me

The idea of a Greek vacation was formed well over a year ago over a glass or two of wine between my best friend Janet and I.  Must say the idea grew inversely proportionally to the level of our wine bottle(s).  At the time, being only a few months shy of my departure to Ethiopia, we were looking for ideas on how to keep in touch during my year plus absence. My blog, (set up by Alice; a close friend of Janet and Cathy) has become my communication lifeline, connecting me to family and friends. Skype, email and more recently Whatsapp have all contributed to helping me cope with living 7500 miles from home. Social media is all well and good, but it just can’t replace real live ‘contact’ and we both decided we needed more. Also, Janet was a bit leery of her ‘proficiency’ in the social media world despite the fact that she is referred to as the ‘Whiz’.   So we decided on a ‘road trip’! Our regular road trips were about to take on new heights!  It was a no-brainer that we needed to discuss our plans with Doris. Doris, Janet and I have enjoyed many shopping road trips, so this proposed trip was now just a question of geography. Rob and Barrett agreed to come, and as well, Janet’s sister Cathy was on board. Paul took no convincing, so there you had it. Our party of 7 began planning our Big Greek Adventure.

Paul has often commented that ‘planning’ a trip is half the fun. It builds excitement and anticipation and it allows everyone to have a say in the outcome. The ladies (Janet, Doris, Cathy and me) took the challenge of planning a trip via email, and from a distance of 7500 miles and 2 time zones. Despite the obvious challenges, we worked well together. The emails would just fly back and forth as we ironed out details from what to see and where to stay to what to wear and what to pack.

The day finally arrived.  Janet and Cathy flew out of Ottawa May 17th via London and arrived in Athens May 18 @ 6:30 pm. Rob, Doris and Barrett left Toronto May 17th connecting in Zurich and arrived in Athens, May 18th @ 1:30 pm. Paul and I left Addis Ababa May 18th, connecting in Cairo and being that we were the closest,  we were the first to arrive at 12:30 pm. We had arranged for an airport shuttle to meet us. Service was excellent and we were all appreciative of the worry-free 30 minute ride to our hotel.  Janet and Cathy took the later shuttle, but by 8 pm (I think, seeing as there were a few rum and cokes consumed by then!) we were all settled on the rooftop of our Athens Centre Square Hotel.  It gave us a stunning view of the Acropolis, which just sits there in all its famous glory amid the chaos of Athens.

Athens is a big city and clearly their financial woes have had an impact. The city appears shabby and the abundance of graffiti does little to improve our first impressions. The people are amazing and so friendly and accommodating.  Considering the fact that their economy is suffering, I never found people to be pushy or trying to sell, sell, sell. There are lots of shopping opportunities as you wander through Monastiraki and Plaka. Restaurants were everywhere and the food was wonderful. We had pre-booked a Hop On, Hop Off tour for the next day. This was a wonderful and convenient way to see all the hot spots that Athens has to offer. The Acropolis and the Parthenon lived up to all the hype. A must see for any Athens visit.

Steps leading into the Acropolis

What, no? They're only now building the Parthenon?

The Parthenon

View from Acropolis of Hadrian's Arch and Temple of Zeus

We're in the Theatre of Dionysus, but nothing was playing!

Acropolis Groupie

Acropolis at night. View from the roof top bar of our hotel.

But let’s face it, going to Greece means going to the Islands!  We took a ferry from Pireaus, early May 20th, to Santorini.  The ferry ride was long (5 hrs +). Piraeus is the main port outside of Athens so the ferry left pretty much on time. Unfortunately, we learned that ferries lose time with each subsequent stop on route to your destination. I’m always fearful of getting seasick, but I have to say the ride was pretty smooth. The Gravol I took, however, made the trip appear faster as I slept most of it.

Santorini is absolutely stunning!  The view we had from our hotel balcony gave us an amazing view of the caldera that formed from numerous volcano eruptions in the last 3600 years. We sailed from the Old Port of Fira to the island of Nea Kameni where the volcano of Santorini is located. It was a good hike, but at the top we could see the active crater and walk along its rim.  Crazy, but you can still see rising steam, but as our Guide reassured us, "activity is very closely monitored"! Phew! Next we went the island Palia Kameni and we were allowed to jump off the boat and swim in the hot springs created thousands of years ago by the underwater power of the volcano. Yeah there appeared to be a clear age demographic that divided who swam and who chose to enjoy the sights! The boat tour continued to another island (Thirasia) where we enjoyed a nice lunch at one of the many tavernas that line the area. After lunch, we sailed up the coast to Oia (pronounced EeeeA).  We (Rob, Doris, Paul and I) had arranged to meet Janet, Cathy and Barrett in Oia so this was the end of our tour. They let you off at the bottom and then you have a choice of walking or taking donkeys. Yup, we took the donkeys!  They know their way and require no instruction from you. Just hold on and be careful on the narrow, winding journey up that your legs don't rub against the rock walls.  It was fun, except they don't go ALL the way up.  You still have to do some walking and by this time it was hot and we were out of water. First thing we did when we reached the top was find a place to purchase a bottle of water. Oia is a beautiful. It has the typical, winding, narrow streets and white and blue Cycladic architecture that just screams: Greece!  It's also a bit more upscale..............nicer stores (Doris and I couldn't help noticing. Come on!) and restaurants. We ate at one such restaurant, which gave us a stunning view of the famous Santorini sunset. Janet, Cathy and Barrett met us at the restaurant as these intrepid hikers had decided to walk the 3 hr Santorini Crater Rim walk.  Hmmm, Paul, Doris, Rob and I chose to enjoy a glass of white wine or two while enjoying the view.

We stayed 3 1/2 days in Santorini and it was just wonderful. Our island tour of the southern side of Santorini was extremely memorable.  We were so impressed with the town at the southern tip called Akrotiri. This is an excavation site that is known as the Greek Pompeii. Archaeologists have only uncovered 3% of the remains of a volcano eruption that occurred around 1627 BCE. It's just such an incredible feeling to walk through this site and imagine (through the findings) what life was like. They have uncovered frescoes and many objects and artworks. It was even more meaningful when we visited the Archaeological Museum in Athens to see the Akrotiri display. 

Can't get tired of this view! Janet and Paul look good too!

Sunset in Santorini

Janet figures out the beauty of a panoramic Santorini view.

Santorini Sunset!

Our hotel restaurant

Quick bite and then off to explore Fira.

Highest point of Santorini

View from monastery of Profitis Ilias

Lunch break during Island tour.

Excavation site. Pics don't do it justice. Simply amazing!

Fresco restored at Archaeological Museum, Athens

Frescoes recovered from Akrotiri

Akrotiri treasures

Sights during our Island tour

Taking the slow ride up to Oia

Oia Town Square

Winding streets of Oia

Relaxing in Oia and reading my favourite author, Brooke Alexander                                        

We left Santorini by ferry (which was late arriving!!) on route to Naxos. It was only a short hop (1 hour) to yet another Greek paradise.  We stayed in Naxos for 6 days and rented a Villa at Plaka Beach.  The setting here was idyllic.  It was a short walk to the beach and the beach just stretched for miles.  The Aegean water color is a turquoise-blue and it's crystal clear. Another wonderful thing about travelling to Greece in May is avoiding the crowds and heat of High Season.  We lucked out with all our travel and accommodations.  I arranged for this Naxos Villa through Home Away and Athena (our hostess) was absolutely wonderful and her property was everything we had hoped it would be. Athena arranged car (s) rental for us and met us at the ferry to escort us to our Villa, show us the grocery, butcher, and provided suggestions of places to see and where to eat. Having the cars was an added bonus cuz with Rob and Paul behind the wheels, we proceeded to do our own Island tour.  Old Naxos town was equally interesting as we strolled through the winding streets. It's a port town and has a most impressive entrance: Apollo's Temple.

Naxos was a nice pace after the hectic first week of our vacation. We also got a nice feel for authentic Greece whether driving through the crazy, winding mountain roads, walking in Naxos town, climbing up to see Apollo's Temple, relaxing on the deck or at the beach. It was just wonderful to be able to kick back in such a magnificent setting with family and friends. I was sad to see it end.

Apollo's Temple as you enter Naxos

Streets of Old Naxos Town

Old, but so beautiful!

Let's just say we live here.

Cathy, "Getting tired of all the stairs"?

No idea what Janet is holding, but the Naxos scenery looks wonderful

Countryside of Naxos

Hanging out on someone's front porch!

Plaka Beach, Naxos

Guess what ALL the ladies are doing?

Villa Dimitra, Naxos

Villa Dimitra, Naxos

Janet! No one's home! Seriously!

We opted to fly from Naxos back to Athens. It was a question of a 45 minute plane ride or a 5 hour ferry. Yeah, I know: no brainer! Athens the second time around hadn't changed much, except that in the space of 2 weeks the volume of tourists had definitely increased. More confirmation that we had chosen an ideal time to visit Greece.
Allison and her roommate Kat met us in Athens for the last two days of  our vacations. They were both on a break from teaching and had spent the first part of their vacation in Zathynkos (also known as Zante). I was of course overjoyed that they had left their island paradise to spend time with us. Paul, Barrett and I took Al and Kat to the Acropolis and other spots in Athens we had enjoyed earlier,  It was great to see their reactions to Athens rich history. We also enjoyed walking through the markets, shopping, eating ice cream and yummy Greek food and copious amounts of wine, But that's another blog.

Greek Goddesses fit right into Athens

Enjoying their time in Zathynkos

Selfie Time

Al's last day in Zante

Al, Kat and me at the Acropolis

Soaking it all in at the Temple of Zeus

Vacations are wonderful and this ONE ranks among one of my favourites. Paul and I are so appreciative and thankful for our family and friends. Living so far away makes every opportunity to get together, regardless of the location, extra special. We want to thank ALL our travel companions for a wonderful trip. If I had one criticism about the whole experience it would be that it went by way too fast. That being said perhaps it's time to start planning another one?  Love you all!

Miss YOU!