Sunday Morning in Awassa

Today is our one day off during two weeks of training.  So, I took advantage by "sleeping in" until 600.  I awakened to the  familiar sound of the donkey across the alley, the same donkey I have heard every morning during the last two trips.  I know his distinctive bray very well!  After a few swigs of bottled water, I headed out to the streets for a run, a treat which I rarely get a chance to enjoy because of our long daily schedules. 

I warmed up by running down the boulevard towards the lake in the early morning sunshine, temperature in the low 60s.  Soon I was running alongside two smiling teenage boys.  After a few minutes I turned off onto a shaded cobblestone side street.  I headed to the Lewi Resort on the shores of the lake, and enjoyed watching the monkeys feast on the food left by late diners last night.  The lake was beautiful in the morning sun, and there were many, many birds, including eagles, hornbills, egrets, herons, ducks, and Awassa's famous - and ugly - marabou storks. 

Next, I headed down a dirt road to the gate of the Norwegian mission where Judy, Janet and I stayed at the end of our trip in 2010.  Retracing my steps, I passed the Lewi and veered onto the trail which runs right along the water's edge, watching the boys fish and swim.  Finally, I turned back onto the boulevard and headed back up towards St. Gabriel Orthodox Church, whose gold dome shone in the sun.  I stopped briefly to play soccer with some boys and watched their game for a few minutes.  Now in the "home stretch" of my 5-mile jaunt, I was greeted by many smiles, calls from the bajaj (3-wheeled taxi) drivers, and shouts of "Strong!"  As I caught my breath at the doors of my hotel, a young girl and boy giggled at me on their way to church.

After the wonderful treat of a hot shower, I went next door to the restaurant and enjoyed a cup of strong, Ethiopian coffee under a palm tree.  Back in the lobby I played with two 3-year-old boys who said hello in Mandarin, because they assumed from my fair skin that I was Chinese.  Soon my good friend Judy joined me and we went to a sidewalk cafe where I enjoyed a breakfast of pancakes and honey (and more coffee, of course.)

Have I mentioned that I love Awassa?