Checked out of hotel. Melissa played her guitar and sang as we gathered at her house before breakfast.
Breakfast at German bakery. Here are the kids with Jessie. 
To NGO (non-govt organization, usually mission-type groups) bazaar at one of the two English-speaking churches, the one Rich and Melissa attend. Beautiful building. Find some nice gifts and run into some of the people we have met this week -- Jerry & Christy & their kids, Corey & Melody and her mom. This bazaar is the last Friday of every month and a major gathering for the firenge (foreigners, like us.)
Lunch at Garden Paradise Terrace at Adam's Pavillion.
To Ethiopian National Museum. Are patted down by security, which I did not expect, and our bags are searched. Bathrooms were in an outside building. Disgusting to say the least. Stall doors that wouldn't close, no toilet seats, no toilet paper, no means of flushing the toilet other than using the pail in the trashcan full of water that served as a sink. I give Chris a lot of grief for not telling us to go somewhere else first!!!
Certainly not the Smithsonian. Claim to fame are the bones of "Lucy," the missing link. Bones that have travelled the world, in a downstairs room in a glass case without much to mark its (supposed!) significance. Old royal chairs, traditional weapons and clothing. Souvenir shop on the top floor -- but of course it wasn't open. You could get post cards, posters, or books.
Back to Rich & Melissa's. We take turns showering in her space ship shower. This link shows one like it. http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4054/4493845625_b7a4fb6de0_o.jpg We all find it quite amusing to see something like this in Ethiopia, as there is often no water, and what there is does not provide enough pressure to make a shower like this worthwhile! Amazing that people we have just met have welcomed us into our home so easily, but not so amazing as we have realized that almost any American is a friend when you are away from home. We learn that Vernon (the real first name of Seattle campus pastor Dale, which Eddie saw on his passport and shared) has a hair dryer. There are a lot of comments about his man-card.
Pizza for dinner. Again. Fourth time this week. We are tired of it, but it is easy.
To the airport. So much easier this time without all the extra baggage!!!! Flight back goes through Rome. No one deplanes, no one comes on, it is just a fuel stop. We have pondered that the stop is required because the plane needs more fuel to go against the jet stream, but heard from someone that it is really due to the fact that the runway is not long enough for the new plane to take off when full of fuel. This lack of planning would not surprise us after a week in Africa.
Security to get into the airport. Gate is behind another round of security but there are no bathrooms on that side. We wait as long as we can, go to the bathroom, and then go through.
Flight leaves around 10PM. I nap jerk before we even get off the ground and sleep fairly well all the way to Rome. There is a meal served, but I don't mind missing it as I am not used to eating in the middle of the night!
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