First day in Addis Ababa / erster Tag in Addis Abeba

English see below.

Ich muss mich wohl erst wieder an Afrika gewöhnen, das wurde mir heute bewusst. Ich bin schon auf die ersten Touristenfallen reingefallen. Habe vermutlich viel zu viel für eine Sim Karte bezahlt und die hat noch nicht mal Datenvolumen..haha und dann habe ich einen Fahrer "gemietet" um zum National Museum zu kommen, damit ich Lucy sehen kann und dass er mich noch in einen Shop fährt, da ich grad völlig orientierungslos bin hier und ich habe für alles viel zu viel bezahlt meiner Meinung nach. Obwohl der Mann an der Rezeption natürlich gesagt hat, es sei ein guter Preis den ich ausgehandelt habe..haha. Sie sind noch immer lustig die Afrikaner...

Janu, shit happens wie man so schön sagt und ich werde vermutlich die nächsten Wochen mit der Reisegruppe nicht mehr so viel Geld ausgeben, da für das meiste bereits bezahlt ist also kann ich auch jetzt hier in Addis ein bisschen mehr Geld aus dem Fenster schmeissen. Ich freu mich auf jeden Fall auf die Gruppe. Allein in Europa zu reisen ist das eine, aber in Afrikas Grossstädten ist es halt doch schöner zu zweit.

Also, heute ging ich Lucy besuchen. Die Überbleibsel des ersten Menschen, also die Überbleibsel einer unserer Vorfahren. Es wurde mir bereits gesagt, dass es nicht sehr spektakulär sei und ich war darauf gefasst enttäuscht zu werden. Und enttäuscht wurde ich.haha. Die Knochen sind wirklich mikrig und es sind auch nicht mehr alle vorhanden. Trotzdem war es natürlich eindrücklich zu sehen, wie unsere Vorfahren unter der Haut ausgesehen haben. Auch der Rest des Museums war nicht sehr spannend und innert einer Stunde war ich wieder raus. Obwohl ich alles brav gelesen habe. Dann gings noch in den Supermarket um Pringles zu kaufen und Wasser. Letzte Nacht hatte ich drum kein Wasser im Zimmer und das war gar nicht angenehm. Heute Morgen hat der Tag dann auch mit Kopfschmerzen angefangen. Die sind jetzt aber weg, habe doch schon 2 Lt. Wasser getrunken.

Die Nacht war überhaupt nicht gerade erholsam. Obwohl ich sehr müde war, konnte ich nicht einschlafen weil sich jemand im Möbelrücken geübt hat. Ich hoffe, die Übung war erfolgreich ;-). Auch muss ich mich wieder an den konstanten Lärm hier gewöhnen. Hatte vergessen wie laut es ausserhalb Europas zu und her gehen kann. Die Oropax waren natürlich im Rucksack verstaut und ich zu faul um sie zu holen ;-). Oh well, ich bin sicher in ein paar Tagen bin ich wieder heimisch im schönen Afrika und lachen konnte ich auch schon oft. Es ist doch schön, wenn man merkt, dass man noch nicht alle Naivität abgelegt hat und man noch immer auf die simplesten Tricks reinfällt wenn man sich nicht auskennt..

Tja, das wär's mal für heute. Bis zum nächsten Mal.

I've realized today that I have to get ajusted to the African way of living again. It's been too long. I totally fell into a tourist trap today. Paid way too much for my transport, I think the driver will be living quite some time with my money. Than paid probably way to much for a local sim card too.

However, I suppose that's part of travelling getting accustomed again and getting the hang of things. I have still no orientation where I am. As I've no map and google map doesn't really work and also I can't really send whatsapp it's kind of a lotterly with these things around here. Eventhough the hotel brochure says it's got broadband internet...haha.

Anyway, I went to visit Lucy today the first human that walked up straight as we do. She is displayed a the National Museum and I was warned that I'd be disappointed and of course I was. There are a few bones of Lucy and some other ancestors of ours and it's not even the whole skeleton. Also the other exhibits aren't really well preserved and therefore there's really not much to see. I think I was done in about an hour and it took me so long because I didn't want to hurry because I thought my driver should wait for the money I pay him. Afterwards I wanted to go to St. George Cathedral but that would have cost me more and therefore I will do that tomorrow and hope I'll get a better bargain on the driver or I'll figure out how to go there by bus. It should be possible.

I could have walked all the way to Lucy easily it would have taken me 15 - 20 minutes probably but I didn't know where the museum was and I don't actually know how safe it is around here. It looks as if the hotel isn't in the best area but then I don't know where the good areas would be, would I? Really need to get a map of this place.

Went to the shop and bought some Pringles as they're my favourites in Africa and paid hell of a lot. Could have had an entire meal for that money I suppose but they make me happy. And I have now a large supply of water. Which is great because last night there was no water in my room and I was thirsty all night. I woke up with a headache which disappeared after I had some water. All in all the first night wasn't really relaxing. I was quite loud here at the hotel and I totally forgot how loud people can be outside Europe or even maybe outside Switzerland. My earplugs were in the backpack of course and I was too lazy to get up to get them...Anyway I made it through and even not so well rested I had some sightseeing today. Well that's it for today.

T.I.A.

Well I had a good flight. It was quite entertaining. Cried with "Finding Dory" and "Money Monster" and laughed with "The Secret Lives of Pets". The food and the staff on the flight were both good. Well all went well so far.

And then I landed in Addis Ababa and eventhough I rechecked with my booking agent the transfer from the airport to the hotel wasn't at the airport. So, the lovely lady from the tourist office helped me to get in touch with my hotel, they weren't expecting me till tomorrow...holy crab. Well, they said, they'd send someone it would take 15 - 20 minutes, half an hour later I was still waiting. Getting more and more tired and also didn't really feel comfortable at the airport. The moment I decided to take a taxi because I didn't want to wait any longer the driver from the hotel arrived. We drove to the hotel through really dark streets and I thought, holy crab hopefully this is really the hotel guy. Well, as you can read now. I've arrived. I am here, there's WIFI and a comfortable bed, there's supposed to be a safe which I haven't figured out how it works yet. However, I go to bed now :-)

Aussicht von meinem Hotelzimmer in Addis

One week to go...

Getting ready for my next trip. This time will be travelling from Addis Ababa to Nairobi. Can't wait to go back to Africa.

Samos

Am on a holiday in Samos. Just arrived yesterday and had my firts day at the beach today. It was great to be on the beach again and do nothing but read :-)

Dublin :-)

Hey guys

Tomorrow a new adventure starts although it will last only four days I am very excited about it :-). Dublin is the destination and as it is one of my favourite cities so far I am reaalllyyy looking forward to it :-)

I'll post some photos after my trip so stay tuned :-)

Happy St. Patrick's day :-)

Preparing for school :-)

Ok hear about my morning, very funny. I woke up with my cold still going on so decided to stay in bed a bit longer than usually. At least my least liked radio guy wasn't on this morning. Got up at around 8.30 a.m. and went to town to get stuff for my entrance examination for the school I want to attend in autumn. Went to the most popular stationary shop in town which had everything on sale. Of course they didn't have the stuff I needed.

So I walked for 1 KM to the next of their branches just to figure out that the shop wouldn't open until 10.00 a.m. Went to Starbucks to drink some coffee and wanted to read my favourite newspaper but they didn't have it, they just had a newspaper nobody ever really reads in Zurich. So I had my coffee and cinamon role and went back to the stationary shop. My main purpose of being there was to buy a calculator one where you can memorise algebra formulas with. So I asked the saleswoman which of the displayed calculators I could use. She didn't know because she never uses them. She went to get another saleswoman the same answer. I told them: 'But you sell these calculators you should know which one I need to have to memorise forumlas!' But they were like..hm no not really. So they went to get another saleswoman and this one was actually a lot smarter than the others. This one just asked: 'Which school will you attend?' I told her and she took out a list with all calculators on and in about 30 seconds she could tell me which one I needed...holy crab. I mean, HELLO?!

So I went back to my part of the city and went to my area's supermarket. Went inside and got my stuff and went straight to the check-out. And you know who stands there buying stuff? My least favourite radio guy. How can that be? ;-)

Reviewmirror

Now it's a year since I packed my backpack and travelled through South-East Africa. I miss it very much. I miss the sun and to see blue skies and the sea. I miss the smell of the African markets and the smiling people you meet everywhere. I miss that not everything works properly and the shower is cold. I miss riding in the DalaDala and squeezing in even though there's no space left. Yes I miss it.

Since I am back home I am unemployed. It's o.k. I don't get bored easily there's always something to do. From October to December I was studying English to take the Proficiency exam. I worked as a catering assistant at concerts even as a kind of security, I wrote transpricts for surveys done by research agencies and currently I am studying Algebra and German to enrole at college. So bored? No I am not bored but I would love to work again or at least pack my bag and be off again. I will have to stay put till at 12th May and if there's not job around till then, yes, travelling again :-)

That's it. My little update on life :-)