Sylvia's Journal

All day we luxuriated at the Kuriftu Resort and Spa in Debre Zeit, located at a small lake about one hour’s drive out of Addis. We bought a day pass for about 20 dollars that entitled us to a lunch, a swim, a kayak trip across the lake and 25% off on all spa treatments. As soon as we arrived we registered for massage, me the aromatherapy and Liz for the Swedish massage, followed by a pedicure which required the electricity to come back on (it eventually did).

It surprised us that coffee making in Ethiopia required electricity but it was the reason given for an hour delay. When it finally arrived we had already progressed to beer in frozen mugs – the coffee rather substandard (maybe because it required electricity) for a country famous for its beans. The local beer on the other hand was just what the doctor ordered on that fine summer day sitting by the lake, watching the pelicans and other water birds frolic right in front of our eyes. It is a tough assignment..

The only thing that spoiled the fun was the pontoon boat with its throbbing music that carried a few passengers around the lake. We read our books, I did some water colors while we feigned not to listen to the type A American embassy guard sitting behind us in the company of one male (type B) and four gorgeous young women, everyone busily flirting with the tough guy. We wondered what people would think of the US if this is the only representative of the American tribe that they ever meet, Loud? Obnoxious? Sexy? Exciting? Funny? Arrogant? All of the above?

We had a lovely lunch, opted for non Ethiopian, and then regretted that we had scheduled our massages so close after lunch. We were each led into an elegant little room under the large thatched roof with rose petals sprinkled across the floor and the massage table. There were intact roses as well, tucked into rolls of white bath towels and nonchalantly dropped around the room in between the small candles that dotted the floor. The wall to ceiling window looked out over a series of rock basins full of thirsty and twittering small birds. The one hour massage was perfect. When it was all over we dragged the experience out a little longer with a pedicure, possible because the electricity that operated the pedicure chairs and footbaths was back on.

Sitting side by side we had our calloused feet sanded down, our legs exfoliated, our cuticles trimmed and our nails varnished a shiny red/orange and red/brown. I immediately managed to smudge the nail polish on my big toe.

We ended the day with another ice cold local beer looking out over the lake while gossiping about our colleagues back at home. During the drive back to Addis, we talked and talked as if we were on a first date. I suppose we were, as we have never travelled together. Liz has now moved into my hotel and, although not given an imperial suite, still has a large room that is light years nicer and cheaper than the one at the Sheraton, plus of course free internet. We decided to skip dinner, still full from lunch. Instead I ordered a tiramisu as a late night snack while vegging out in front of the TV, having done nothing work-related all day – this is rare on trips but I can say that Liz made me do it. I know I would have been working if I had been here on my own.