Ethiopia - Metema to Addis Ababa

"You, You You!!! Where are you go?"
"Give pen!"
"Bring money!"
"Me T-shirt!"
These are the most heard sentences in Ethiopia!!!! To be honest, it is not so inviting! If you are not willing to provide one of the above mentioned items, you'll have the honor of being thrown stones at!!! (One more reason to wear a helmet, although we are not sure if they have been tested for this purpose!). Yann got a stone thrown at the bicycle frame, Chantal experienced the stone-proof-helmet!
It is unfortunately true and we are not exaggerating, when we say that this has been one of the more unnerving stretches of our trip so far.

Ethiopia has a population of 85 millions and is densely populated with some 80% of the population living in the rural area. There is no spot without people. Wherever we stop we are surrounded by children and adults watching every move we do! Whether you want to eat, make a break or look for a quiet spot for your private business, it's not easy at all! They stare and stare and stare!
It's nearly impossible to camp. We stay in hotels and eat in restaurants. Injera is the national dish and we love it! The different vegetable dishes are just delicious!

We enter Ethiopia in Metema, climb up to Gondar, cycle to Bahir Dar and from there on to Addis Ababa. It's a constant up and down and our bodies first need to accommodate to the height. The Nile Gorge is gorgeous (!) and a sweaty, tiresome affair!
The landscape changes at every curve, it's a discovery after every hill!

Metema: our first hotel in Ethiopia!

Churches are IN (hour long prayers using loudspeakers!) (Vine & Stee: and the priests were chanting "Aaaa-ahhh-aaaa!")

Lovely "shoes"

Those cute girls couldn't stop dancing to the street music. 

Voluntary child labour cycling uphill!

This truck is going nowhere anymore.

Make a stop, take a rest and drink a tea? - Privacy is not in the amharic vocabulary!

Magic!

Local ambulance to transport the sick one.

The shortest village!

Market in Azezo, 12 km before Gondar.

Lovely machiato in Gondar! Mmmmmm!!!

Azezo Post Office

This time Chantal had really enough of "money, you-you-you, give pen!" After the first stone missed her closely, she chased the kids. (of course they where faster then her!) 

No machinery helping in the rural area.

Bahir Dar: pelicans over Lake Tana.

Innovation à la Ethiopia!

Spectacular fish- eagle hunting scene with a happy outcome for the eagle. Not so happy for the tilapia.

Tinny fisherboat made out of reed, they are also used to transport all kinds of goods over the lake on market days. 

Lake Tana serves as a shower/bathroom for the young male poulation. No women to be seen! For visitors not so recommended. Only if you wish to bring back home a nice present in form of billharziosis. 

Flower in the lovely, lush Ghion Hotel garden.

Chicken transport (on the roof, not inside!)

Water transport! The amphora alone must weight 10 kg! The African continent really runs on the back of the african women. 

Men and boys too do carry loads on their head.

Injera! Mmmmmm!!!!

Electrician à la Ethiopia!

After months of desert, these trees are a feast for the eyes!

Want to send the society for animal protection?

A life time job: set up a cash box, display a Jesus/Maria/HolySomething picture and wait.  For every Birr paid, someone will receive salvation! ;-(

THIS is a steep downhill! (we are in Ethiopia!)

Ethiopien cow girls/ boys.

Cleaning the ditch of Debre Markos. What an awful task. 

Driving lessons in the green for future bus and truck drivers!!!

Rural work! Working the land is still a very hard physical effort. 

Downhill to the Nile Gorge! 1500 m down (and up!)

Better have working breaks!

The bridge at an elevation of 1'000 m.

Chantal fighting the Nile Gorge on the uphill side.

Wood transport using industrial bearings as wheels.

Mmmmm! Meat!

We stop, he watches. For once only from the distance. 

Typical village along the road down to Addis. 

Some Beetles are still alive. This one probably only survived because of its poisoning green color. 

Read Amharic? Or recognize the brand?