Dear E.C.S.: “Let’s go hiking”

Dear E.C.S.,

The past month has been full of adventures on the move – seeing the South of Ethiopia, camping with friends a 4 hour drive from Addis Ababa, and Mombasa, Kenya.

The South of Ethiopia

In Arba Minch (a town in the Southern Nations and Nationalities Peoples Region of Ethiopia) from the amazing restaurant view, you, Elle, looked at us and said  “let’s go hiking.”   Excellent idea.   Nature has abounded around us when we have ventured outside of Addis Ababa.

We’ve seen two species of Baboon. Numerous interesting birds – Egyptian Ducks, Fish Eagles, Maribou Stork, Wide beaked ravens, etc. And HUGE crocodiles.

And even though we have gotten pretty close to ververt monkeys, a lot of our nature experiences have been from machines (boat/car) or on small hikes not that far from our hotel or restaurant.

That’s ok.   Maybe one day, Ethiopia will have the long gorgeous trails of the rockies where recreationists can encounter the wildlife a couple miles out.  For now and since you are only 2, it is probably better that it is so easy for nature to come to us.  And the family of warthogs grazing around the hotel has been a very fun bonus.

Camping with friends

The desire to hike came in handy again when we camped with friends over Labor Day weekend at a place called “Lake Langano.”   It’s a calm restorative place where calm waves of the Lake lap 20 feet from your tent and the diversity of birds stands out even to us non-birders.

We played, hike and ran outside of the polluted air of Addis and felt more refreshed than many a vacation.

Mombasa, Kenya

We took the direct flight to Mombasa, Kenya to celebrate the Ethiopian New Year.   Mombasa’s beaches provided a stark contrast to landlocked Ethiopia.  Also, its clear blue waters reminded me how we only see silt-infused waters (read very brown and murky).

Elle, you loved more beach time, but, still missed “home.”   Home for you  now is Addis Ababa…you can even now say in your toddlerese “Addis Ababa”.  Sometimes you go further a say "i live addis ababa with momma and dadda."  My heart melts every time. 

Love,

Mom