Just back from a great evening with Andrew Heavens, the blogger behind Meskel Square.
Amongst other things he told us about his launch of the The Big Issue Ethiopia. The first printing of 2000 sold out in a day and the second printing of 3000 sold out at the Great Ethiopian Run.
Being there was fun, getting there was a nightmare (though fun in its own warped way). Addis is the original town "where the streets have no name". Our instructions were to drive to Siddis Kilo then turn left, straight along till the road starts to curve the take a left just before the curve gets very curvy, up the hill and look for the big white wall. Then take a left just before the wall.
We got lost. Way lost. Way way lost. As we passed the Kenyan embassy and the 15 minute mark a certain nervousness set in. No street names, no street lights, shit - no actual street at one stage.
So we stop and ask someone. A scaly dude says he is just on his way there and can show us. OK. He hops in. We set off. He points we drive. And yea! we are back where we started. After giving our benefactor money "for my sick mother" ( she must have taken ill as we drove, but he was worth every birr) we tried again. This time we made it, but the van almost didn´t. The lane to Andrews house is just a number of connected mine shafts masquerading as potholes. Horn was honked, gate was opened and there he was smiling on his porch.
So thanks Andrew for the good lasagna, great company (and adorable baby) but lousy directions.
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