A few minutes

I have exactly fifteen minutes to tell you about the past few action packed days in Addis, Debre Zeyit, Lake Langano, the country side, and nights out with friends clubbing in Addis. 

First night out we went to a super cool restaurant-bar lounge called Gursha.  Marcus' friend, Hannah, taught me how to do iskusta (not sure on spelling) - an Ethiopian dance.  Dance became the theme of the evening.  After drinks at Gursha we went for more drinks and ambiance at Black Rose, a very chic bar-lounge, where you could easily think you are in London, Paris or New York.  The crowd was very international.  I met an Ethiopian-American filmmaker whose film was nominated for an Oscar.  The space had a Moroccan theme, low cushions, North African styled textiles.  Hannah, who lives in London, said it reminds her of MoMo's.

After Black Rose we went to Hebishah (not sure on spelling here either).  We ate a huge traditional meal and listened to several singers who all had dancers accompany them.  I was pushed out to the dance floor to dance with the singers and show off my new skills in iskusta.  I was caught on film.

From Hebishah we went to an 'asmara bit' which is like a musical comedy freestyle 'show' in the Amharic language.  I don't know the name of the place, but it was next to the Haile Selassie Traditional Lounge.  Clubs and bars and restaurants have funny names here, like 'Joy Pub' or 'Mask Bar: where you come to relax and have a good time.'

Anyway, the asmara bit was incredible!  A man played a guitar as a woman sang and I was encouraged to dance once again.  I spent the rest of the night on the dance floor with the performers showing me their moves and my imitating them.

Ok, I type slowly.  My fifteen minutes are up.  Next time I will write about Lake Langano, going to a village in the country side, hot springs, and The Mask Bar.  And of course there will be tales of food.

Comments

[Steven J. Turner]

klancy,

Good to hear that all is exciting. I returned from Jamaica yesterday. Red Gold and Green is in effect. I visited a Liberty Hall- Marcus Garvey's museum. There was a mural w/ Haile Selassie. Check to see if there is a Liberty Hall in Ethiopia. In other news some people including Rita Marley are thinking of moving Bob Marley's remains to Ethiopia.
Be well,
sjt