Day 209 - Ethnographic Museum of Ethiopia
Monday, January 28th, 2019.
Today we slept in and we were all happy no to be awakened by the chanting prayers. We had our breakfast and got ready to go to the Ethnographic Museum. The kids didn’t want to go and I was hesitant because I feel like I’m getting a cold.
In the end, Gregory and I went to the museum using Ride and I’m glad we did. The museum is in what used to be the palace of Emperor Haile Selassie. I got in as a student. At the ticket office, we met a man who said he was a historian and was happy to show us the museum. We didn’t want but he was so enthusiastic that we let him show the three floors of the museum. I'm glad we accepted, because otherwise we would not have known what we were looking at.
The first floor had the bedrooms and bathrooms of the emperor and his wife, as well as exhibits of the culture and daily life of different ethnological groups in Ethiopia. It started with birth and traditions of some tribes, then childhood were they showed what games the children play and what they learn at school. After childhood, we got to see pictures of what some tribes do when they become adults and then marriage ceremonies. It's fascinating to me that we are in the 21st century and you can still find native tribes living in huts and hunting. Gregory was moving at his own pace and the guide kept telling him to go in order.
Gregory and I kind of wanted to go see some of these tribes but we had found out that it was expensive. Gregory also asked a German couple about it and they said that now it's all a show for tourists and that you even have to pay if you want to take pictures with them! The most alarming thing for me to hear was that tourists pay for the tribal leader to whip the bride-to-be, to show that she will be a good wife. It might be a tradition for the tribe but the fact that they charge money to do it for the show just seems wrong. Same with the bull jumping.
Gregory and I were done and almost wanted to skip the third floor but our guide took us quickly and got to see Ethiopian Art from the 18th and 19th century and the best part, musical instruments! The visit was great and we told them! After that, we tipped our guide and headed to a stand for food. They were surprised to see faranji there! There was no menu and the staff didn't speak English, but we managed to order shiro. One dish of shiro and two sodas came to $1.50. Student price.
The Museum is surrounded by the first university established in Addis Ababa and that’s why there were so many students walking around, sitting on the green areas, talking. We also noticed a lot of blind people walking around, I think there was a special program going on for them. After sitting in the sun for a while, Gregory was determined to find the t-shirt that he really liked. I wasn't feeling well but went along with him.
Today we slept in and we were all happy no to be awakened by the chanting prayers. We had our breakfast and got ready to go to the Ethnographic Museum. The kids didn’t want to go and I was hesitant because I feel like I’m getting a cold.
In the end, Gregory and I went to the museum using Ride and I’m glad we did. The museum is in what used to be the palace of Emperor Haile Selassie. I got in as a student. At the ticket office, we met a man who said he was a historian and was happy to show us the museum. We didn’t want but he was so enthusiastic that we let him show the three floors of the museum. I'm glad we accepted, because otherwise we would not have known what we were looking at.
The first floor had the bedrooms and bathrooms of the emperor and his wife, as well as exhibits of the culture and daily life of different ethnological groups in Ethiopia. It started with birth and traditions of some tribes, then childhood were they showed what games the children play and what they learn at school. After childhood, we got to see pictures of what some tribes do when they become adults and then marriage ceremonies. It's fascinating to me that we are in the 21st century and you can still find native tribes living in huts and hunting. Gregory was moving at his own pace and the guide kept telling him to go in order.
Gregory and I kind of wanted to go see some of these tribes but we had found out that it was expensive. Gregory also asked a German couple about it and they said that now it's all a show for tourists and that you even have to pay if you want to take pictures with them! The most alarming thing for me to hear was that tourists pay for the tribal leader to whip the bride-to-be, to show that she will be a good wife. It might be a tradition for the tribe but the fact that they charge money to do it for the show just seems wrong. Same with the bull jumping.
Gregory and I were done and almost wanted to skip the third floor but our guide took us quickly and got to see Ethiopian Art from the 18th and 19th century and the best part, musical instruments! The visit was great and we told them! After that, we tipped our guide and headed to a stand for food. They were surprised to see faranji there! There was no menu and the staff didn't speak English, but we managed to order shiro. One dish of shiro and two sodas came to $1.50. Student price.
The Museum is surrounded by the first university established in Addis Ababa and that’s why there were so many students walking around, sitting on the green areas, talking. We also noticed a lot of blind people walking around, I think there was a special program going on for them. After sitting in the sun for a while, Gregory was determined to find the t-shirt that he really liked. I wasn't feeling well but went along with him.
We shared a taxi with a guy from Norway who was studying political science at the university here. Very interesting kid. He shared his travel adventures and we shared ours. The taxi was supposed to drop us near the National Theater but he didn’t. We walked for a while looking for small stores that might have the t-shirt Gregory was looking for. We also stopped at the main office of the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia to try to change our Egyptian pounds but they didn’t take them. Now we are stuck with the money my mom gave the kids before she left. We just couldn’t spend them!
We stopped for coffee and to rest a little, then waited for our ride to come and get us! By now, I was feeling sick. We made it home by 6:30pm and I needed to rest. But first, I asked the girl at the beauty salon across our apartment if she could cut Daniel’s hair. The one that spoke English said yes.
I left Daniel and Gregory while I went to lie down. Well, Sunshine had warned me that they probably didn’t know how to cut faranja hair. She was right and my poor Danny boy looks like a newborn bird with hair going all directions. I felt awful but Gregory told me not to make a big deal because it will grow. Poor Daniel, he was upset. He looked better after taking a shower. I went to bed early feeling sick!
Photos to follow.
We stopped for coffee and to rest a little, then waited for our ride to come and get us! By now, I was feeling sick. We made it home by 6:30pm and I needed to rest. But first, I asked the girl at the beauty salon across our apartment if she could cut Daniel’s hair. The one that spoke English said yes.
I left Daniel and Gregory while I went to lie down. Well, Sunshine had warned me that they probably didn’t know how to cut faranja hair. She was right and my poor Danny boy looks like a newborn bird with hair going all directions. I felt awful but Gregory told me not to make a big deal because it will grow. Poor Daniel, he was upset. He looked better after taking a shower. I went to bed early feeling sick!
Photos to follow.
Comments
Post a Comment