Ethiopia > Via Khartoum to Addis Ababa

I am at the check-in counter at Schiphol at a quarter past five in the morning. I am traveling to Ethiopia. First, I fly to Frankfurt. At the German airport, I transfer to the connecting flight to Addis Ababa. Along the way, I try to catch up on some sleep after a short night. I also read through the travel itinerary for the coming days. Outside, I can clearly see Greece. I fly over the islands toward Egypt. After passing the massive Aswan Dam in southern Egypt, I mostly see sand—lots and lots of sand. Even when flying over the Nile in Sudan, I see only desert sand along the banks.

Ethiopia - Ethiopian children watch the bus drive away

I see no sign of life in this desert. The flight makes a stop in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum. All in all, with all the stops, it is a long journey. I arrive at Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa at nine in the evening. In the arrivals hall, I join the line of people waiting for a visa. The line is not very long, but it doesn’t move quickly. I wait patiently for my turn. My details are written on the visa, and after presenting twenty dollars, the visa is affixed to my passport. Next, I go to a currency exchange. I exchange 300 euros into Ethiopian Birr. I receive several bundled packages of cash. Where am I supposed to keep all this money? For now, just in my backpack. The money looks dirty and has a strong, unpleasant odor. It’s strange that my euros must be perfectly crisp while the local currency is so messy. I quickly pass through customs. I am officially in Ethiopia. Ethiopia lies on a high plateau—practically the entire country is over two kilometers above sea level. The mountain ranges often define the national borders. Because of the altitude, it is relatively cool in the summer, and Ethiopia experiences a significant rainy season. This gives the country a good climate for living and for agriculture. September is the last month of the rainy season. Behind customs, I meet the other travelers. Together with the group, I drive to the hotel—a nice hotel outside the city center. I end the day with a beer at the bar. Around midnight, I head up to my room.