That's no moon

Feb 1, 2012: 
I'm not enjoying Ethiopia much. Africa has finally taken its toll on me. Man, am I ready to get out of here. I couldn't get a visa to enter the country because I didn't have a flight to leave. I didn't realize it but my flight purchase was canceled due to me overlooking an email where I had to confirm the flight. I was afraid someone would steal my bag from the baggage claim. The customs attendants where not very friendly or helpful. 

Once I finally got a visa, I couldn't get a sim card. Walking around these two clever punks almost picked my pockets. By punks I mean about 10 years old. 

This city, Addis Ababa, is huge, crowded, and polluted. It has over 3 million people. There are cool things here I just have no motivation to see them. I found a nice hotel with a gym and besides looking for a store to buy cereal and going for a run I haven't left all day. 

Now I'm having some flight problems because I tried to change flights. I hope to figure them out soon. I have a cheaper hotel that is for travelers that I'm moving into tomorrow. Then I want to do this hike. 


Feb 18, 2-2012:
I'm in New Jersey at Helen's parents. I ended up flying out of Addis at 4am February 2nd. Last week Helen and I went to Canada. We went to Montreal, Toronto and Niagara Falls. I didn't like Montreal much, it was another big city to me. The people in Montreal are the most unattractive people I saw, so pale too. Toronto had a better feel to it. I cant explain why; it more modern and brighter at night so maybe that helped. Niagara Falls was a huge tourist trap, and to my surprise I actually enjoyed it the most. Everything to do is all downtown, so it was easy to get around.

It was so cold in Canada, and a bit expensive. We drove too much for a week vacation. We went ice skating, saw Life of Pi, played lazer tag and mini golf, spent a day at the US embassy because we (by we I mean Helen) lost our passports, and of course saw the falls. Life of Pi was really good, almost as good as the book. Too bad we didn't go in the fall or summer or even spring because these places would be more appealing when it is not freezing and full of dead, bare, plants and trees.

I'll be home in Oregon on the 26th. See most of you soon. Peace love and do good things



Jimmy