Yesterday went by so quickly. Thankfully this was because I had set out to walk around Hawassa for the day, determined to make the most of my last few days here.
I left home at 8 to get coffee. After my morning cup, I set off to start the day.
I took many pictures, wanting to take everything in one last time. So, today’s blog will be a little different. Rather than writing much, I’ll let the pictures do the talking.
Along my walk, I found myself near the heart of the city, the piazza, and went back to this coffee shop where I enjoyed my first cup of Ethiopian coffee.
Right around here I got a little pastry from a bakery as a snack. I failed to take a picture of it and only halfway through munching on it, I tripped over a curb, startled myself, and dropped the treat:(
The only thing I had eaten for breakfast was the pastry, so hunger was creeping up on me. I’m very glad it came when it did, because it allowed me to wander into this avocado restaurant. You can’t see it, but out front there are 5 or so ladies who are all tirelessly cutting avocados. There was no menu or anything, I was only asked if I wanted salt, chili, and/or egg with my avocado. My type of restaurant. In that bowl I would say there is the equivalent of 3 or 4 avos, which I paid 100 ETB (70ish cents) for.
I stopped for another coffee after my late breakfast. This coffee was surprisingly one of the best black coffees I have tasted.
I continued my journey until I found myself back at Amora Gedel park (the monkey place).
I found my way to the lakeside. I sat here listening to my audiobook for over an hour, hanging out with these ugly birds.
Inside the park there is a restaurant that serves only fish—the main fish market of Hawassa being just outside the park’s gate. These little fried nibs were absolutely delectable.
After lunch I trekked on back to my neighborhood.
For an early dinner I stopped in at my regular restaurant and ordered a new random item. It came out to be these raw beef cubes. Even though I failed to finish it all, it was absolutely delicious.
I made my way home after nearly 8 hours of walking about. I don’t know why I was surprised, but when I laid down to rest, my legs started cramping like crazy. I had drunk enough coffee and eaten enough food, but I had forgotten to drink sufficient water. And although it’s technically a day late: Happy Mother’s Day to all the lovely moms out there reading this!
I was lucky with yesterday’s weather. The entire day remained sunny. I might have gotten a little sunburnt, but that’s alright—better than rain soaked. I was surprised by the agreeability of the weather, it typically turns stormy around 5pm. As I was falling asleep, however, dark clouds covered the sky and a raging wind started to blow. All through the night it rained and a nonstop thunder pounded down. It was pretty cool to see a full blown storm, normally it’s just an hour or two of heavy rain. This reminded me more of the weather we have at home.
Today is my last day in Hawassa, but unfortunately it will be spent at work.