Addis Ababa

Arrived at 510 am, after a 6 hour flight. Quite a large group of missionaries onboard.   Our driver forgot to pick us up, but arrived after a call. Staying at the caravan hotel - quite basic but comfortable. Only ten minutes from airport down a dirt road.  This city of 6 million is bustling with market stalks, shoppers,cars, buildings under construction, dust and noise. Our tour guide, Hadu, met us in the lobby at 1130. Fellow travelers are nice - Stevie from oxhaca and New Mexico - an artist and designer the other one is in his 70’s from Medicine Hat and born in holland!
After a briefing we visited the national museum - filled with archeological bones of the  first evidence of man - 3.5-2.5 million years ago. Sparsely displayed but very interesting to see “Lucy” and Salem (bones of three year old oldest known person). Lots of ancient artifacts. Then drive around Mercado- largest in Africa!  Huge, crazy, dusty, noisy and colorful.  Too tired to walk it, happy to drive!  Gone to lie down and sleep as we were buzzing from lack of it.
Impression so far is this is a very poor city. We see the Chinese presence with building of parks and buildings. Lots of unfinished high rises. Begging on the streets and homeless sleeping on the side of the road. Friendly people. Feel safe. Made aware of pickpocketing

So