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March 10, 2002

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Bahar Dar has a relaxed mood. We watch people in the market. They stare back. A symbiotic relationship, we provide entertainment for each other. We drink fantastic juice - blend of mango, orange, and avocado - at one of many juice bars. We ride bikes to the palace. A group of Ethiopians follow us, hoping to earn some money as 'guides.' Our schedule calls for us to go back to Addis Ababa. To catch this afternoon's flight we bribe the ticket counter person $10 to move our status from the waiting list to confirmed. We've learned that in Ethiopia we should respond to any official "No" with "What can we do to make this work?" -or- "How can we turn this into a win-win situation?" -or- "Can George Washington or Abe Lincoln change your mind?" The problem occurs when the official asks for Ben Franklin.
We take plumbing for granted. In the villages, water in the home comes from pots carried on the backs of women.
Bahar Dar has some beautiful, tree lined streets. We find a palace of Emperor Haile Selassie at the end of these purple jacaranda trees.