I consider myself to be relatively kind, I would help if someone was in need and I occasionally smile at tourists. Like the next person, I am time poor so would definitely not clear a whole day to help out some blow in from out of town. Not so for Sisai, who I was introduced to by my go to guy for Africa. On my very first morning in Addis Ababa, Sisai turned up at my Airbnb with a driver buddy in tow. He greeted me as if I was long lost family and declared that today was my day. My British sensibility kicked in and I wanted to know what the catch was, I mean, why would a dude devote a whole day to a stranger. Soon enough, I was grateful to have Sisai by my side. Addis is an impossible city to navigate for a novice, particularly one who struggles to identify their left from their right. My first port of call was a travel agency run by a Spanish woman, Miriam. In Addis they don’t have the same numbering system as we do in Blighty, so you rely on landmarks and micro local knowledge for directions. Just as we were about to give up, we found Miriam’s place and what a find she turned out to be. I gave her my aspirational itinerary and she gave me a reality check. Ethiopia is expensive for solo travellers particularly ones on a shoe string budget but with a phobia for pedestrian chic.
Miriam soon put me in my place and then she hit me with that kindness thing that Sisai had shown. She decided to give me her intellectual assets for no charge. Her reward was the fact that she was helping a solo traveller, the help she needed many years ago when she and her sister did Ethiopia. She loaned me a small back pack which is imperative for agile travelling. I have a date with Miriam on my return to Addis and can’t wait to tell her about my many amazing experiences.
With half my gear left for safe keeping with my lovely Airbnb hosts in Addis, a great adventure ahead of me and a SIM card from Sisai, I was ready to do take on Ethiopia.
Hello Danakil!