The 73 million Ethiopians only have an average life expectancy of 48 years and this was easy to understand after three weeks traveling around Ethopia. There is a daily struggle:

- To grow crop on hillsides, between rocks, and lack of water

- To find clean drinking water or any water at all. Long walks with empty 5-gallon containers to a well from their village and then return with a full 5-gallon container

-  To carry possessions and heavy bags of food manually. Young children of five years were carrying more than I could lift

- To deal with Heat, Malaria

Heartbreaking to watch their struggle. Henock started up the car for the long drive back to Addis. Out of Wenney’s Eco-Lodge and past a few unusual Muslim graves. (Henock thinks the tomb of a “man riding a bull” was probably a farmer.) Even though Muslims usually don’t have images, they seemed to combine their religious beliefs with ancient traditions in this area, ergo, pictures. Throughout the entire South, this was the only area that Muslim graves looked like this. Interesting and colorful.

depiction of man riding a horse – Muslim grave in Ethiopia 

farmer riding a bull – another Muslim grave in Ethiopia

this grave was either depicting a mosque or the person’s house,Ethiopia
A fast stop at Lake Zuway with Sacred Ibis, Marabou Storks and Pelicans. Extremely abundant birdlife because the fishermen on Lake Zuway litter the ground with discarded fish. Happy birds…

children fishing at Lake Zuway in Ethiopia 

Marabou Storks fighting for fish leftovers at Lake Zuway, Ethiopia
The last hour into Addis from the South was a nighmare with trucks and cars on both sides spewing exhaust, diesel fumes and carbon monoxide into our faces. And, without air conditioning, the windows had to be left open…what can you do. We’ve decided it isn’t “haze” over Addis…it’s pollution and smog.

Lunch at Addis Cuisine where the manager recognized us from three weeks ago! Just goes to show you how many Americans visit Ethiopia. Into a few last shops for one last, fast souvenir. A dayroom at the DeLeopol and one last dinner with Henock at Habesha Cultural Restaurant. We finally tasted and ate Injera and are sorry we waited so long. It’s delicious. The restaurant also presents a cultural show nightly, but we had to leave for the airport before it started.

Injera selections in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Watch this video with some of the many Ethiopian highlights