Remembering Ethiopia (our adoption trip)

Various meals at the lovely Union Hotel, Addis Ababa

* a mixed salad

*A tunafish sandwich

*their version of spaghetti carbonara (cold)


*see the coffee to the left....it is authentic Ethiopian...and it is strong and delicious
(I truly miss it.)

* A lovely rose

*vegetarian sandwich *very yummy, I ate several over our 5 days!

(don't remember what this was...as it was one of our traveling mates sandwiches)

* chicken sandwich

not sure what type of animal this is, but isn't he really cute!

As we waited in Addis Ababa at the Union Hotel for all the details necessary in our adoption, we enjoyed eating in the main floor restaurant. The chef was so creative with everything he served us. Oft times, we found a tiny little animal made of vegetables accompanying our order. How sweet to make us stop and smile in the midst of all the emotions that run in the last leg of an adoption.

There wasn't much Ethiopian food on the menu, but many choices that would please the American palate. Sometimes a dish would arrive cold, instead of hot...I wonder if they just didn't know that we would eat it hot? It was always beautifully presented and tasted good to anyone hungry.

Everyday this sweet cook stuck his head out of the pass through from the kitchen. He would smile and wave and bow as we acknowledged him. Unfortunately there was a language barrier or I would have clearly told him what a blessing he was to our group. He smiled and encouraged our new daughter Mihret (Mih-heh-ret) to laugh and wave at him. She gladly obliged.

How I wish I had taken his picture. I have such fond memories of the times we all sat around the table there. Of all the wonderful wait staff and all the kindness' they poured out upon us.

Oh, that God would bless each of them and that someday we would meet again-and I'd snap pictures to show you their beautiful faces. Maybe, perhaps next time I won't be so shy and will instead gather all of them in pictures.