Timkat, January 19

Timkat is the celebration of Epiphany in Ethiopia. It is big national holiday, and thousands fill the churches, Meskel Square, and other sites around Addis. Mid-morning we took a taxi to Janmeda, a large military training field on the northern side of the city. There were thousands streaming into the grounds. For the most part, the men, women, and children were dressed in their fancy white clothes. Sermons were preached, followed by parading the Ark of the Covenant replicas under colorful large umbrellas. Masses of people were in this field, milling about with their families and friends. It was a time of celebration.
    Em, Glen, Barbara and I left to reconnect with our taxi driver; he never responded as a recording on his cell indicated he had turned his phone off. Not surprising as this is common when they don’t want to be bothered. We hired another taxi, and Mr. Lee from MCM picked us up at Friendship Shopping Center and took us to the Rainbow Korean Restaurant. I saw Mrs. Park, the restaurant proprietor in the clinic the other day, and she had invited us to her restaurant. It was down some unpaved side streets, lined with vegetable and fruit stands, a surprising bustling area of agricultural products, and tucked in there was this cozy, delightful restaurant. We were joined by Mr.& Mrs. Kim, the Koning twins and Einar. The food was magnificent. We will certainly be back. This meal was a “thank you” by Mrs. Park for attending to her medical needs. And Thank You Mrs.Park for the wonderful meal! (See slideshow in sidebar.)

-- Don