Donkeys trotted toward me as I navigated around a vendor hawking roasted corn to passersby. Sellers offered me samples of khat, a type of leaf that’s chewed for its stimulating effects. Technicolor woven baskets, incense, and haggling shoppers had my senses firing on all cylinders.
If there was a better way to combat jet lag than wandering the chaotic alleys of the Mercato, Africa’s largest open-air market, I couldn’t think of one.
For many travelers, Ethiopia’s capital city of Addis Ababa is a quick stop on the way to a safari in Tanzania or Kenya. For my husband and I, it was the start of a mission trip. For two weeks, we would be part of a team serving orphans and vulnerable families throughout Ethiopia. We came to Addis a few days early, hoping to learn something about the country.
Kirsten Harrington 