Court Trip Recap

It has been a memorable week... we are exhausted.
But I want to try to get this all down before I forget the details.

I was hoping to be able to add pictures of Silas by now, but we are still waiting for court approval before we post any pics ... Hopefully by next week. 

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The day after we had court, Wednesday 10/31, we headed to Harar ... the city in eastern Ethiopia where Silas is from.

On the way there we went on a small safari through Awash National Park ...

Awash Falls

Our scout

... and drove through the beautiful countryside of Eastern Ethiopia ...

Volcanic Plain

Lake that is expanding each year because of volcanic activity (the town keeps having to move)

Finally, on Thursday we toured Harar... 


There is too much to say about Harar. There is an "old town" and "new town." The old town is the part that is enclosed within the walls. 

The city is surrounded by five gates, which originally kept the Christians at bay. The population of Harar is still largely Muslim, with its 23 Mosques to 1 Ethiopian Orthodox Church and 1 Catholic Church within the old town. 

Markets abound in Harar. These are Oromo women, who live in villages outside of Harar. In the markets, Arab, Indian and African influences merge.

Harar (main market)

Our tour guide Binyam showing us how (women only) use the injera baskets to carry things on their head. 

Old town market

 


This is a traditional Adare (Harari) guesthouse, which are typically set back behind a courtyard and an elaborately carved door. Inside, the walls are covered with Harari baskets.

Beautifully carved door

On the shelf lie carpets, one for each daughter available for an arranged marriage (guests can see this from any seat on the platforms) 

Joel and Mandy sitting on the platform (this level was originally for honored guest only)

Safes to hold gold, grain, oil and incense (not locked, but too high and deep for little kids hands to steal)

This street was called Machine GerGer Street because it's lined with tailors working on their sewing machines (and they make the gerger sound all day long).

The narrow streets of Harar are painted in vibrant colors, perhaps inspired by the city's inhabitants. This street is called "Peacemaker's Street" because Muslims and Christians would have to pass closely by eachother politely and made peace. 

We also were able to feed the hyenas ... This man feeds hyenas every night. It's not a tourist show - there have been hyena-related rituals in Harar for over 500 years.

On Friday, November 2nd, got to go visit the Harar care center before heading back to Addis for our flight home. It was great to see how much the nannies love the kids and how attentive and caring they are with them. There were only about 10 kids in the center at that time (at least by my count) and there were 4 nannies and the manager. That is great statistics. We were also able to find out more details about Silas and his life right before joining the care center. This is his story to tell some day so we will not share details on here, but we are thankful for his birth family who cared for him and wanted him to live a happy, healthy life; for the people that took him to the hospital and watched over him as he was sick; and for the nannies at both the Harar and Addis care centers that are caring for him now until we can get back to bring him home. 

Head Nanny and Manager of Harar Care center
(they said Silas is their social, smiley baby and he is doing well because he is "happy and fat")

There are so many wonderful things to see and people to meet in Ethiopia. I would love to write much more, but my daughter is waking up from her nap now. Keep watching for new posts...soon it will be pictures. 

Blessings,
Joel and Mandy