Very very posh…

Yesterday a friend (who the girls have adopted as an additional great aunt, and I think they run her fan club) took us out to lunch at the Addis Ababa Sheraton. This is the TOP hotel in Ethiopia, and probably one of the top hotels in Africa.

It is a mammoth complex, with a large resort-style swimming pool, lush gardens, many many fountains, plush high-rise accommodation, villa accommodation for those who can afford squillions per night, and many different restaurants. As a treat, we went to the cheapest of the restaurants.

It was quite lovely, and all three adults decided to have something we’ve been craving – chicken! We’ve only had chicken once while we’ve been here, and I really miss it.

So we all had chicken fajitas, and they were great. The girls had fish and chips or chicken nuggets and chips (and these were pieces of real chicken deep fried in batter, not the usual disgusting crumbed chicken conglomerate muck).

After lunch, despite light rain, the girls enjoyed playing in the children’s playground for some time. It was the first playground – apart from at school – that they have played in since we have been here. (Well, actually they may have played in others, but I got only about 2 hours sleep last night due to a family member throwing up periodically, so I’m possibly not entirely coherent this morning…)

It was completely incongruous being at the Sheraton. The foyer was SO plush. The whole complex was quite amazing. And this is smack bang in the middle of poverty all around. People live in corrugated iron, cardboard and tarpaulin “houses” on either side.

Really, it was quite obscene that a place so opulent exists in these surroundings. We enjoyed our lunch, and enjoyed the western experience, but it was all a bit odd, and slightly troubling.

Particularly the staff wearing pith helmets… and the red phoneboxes in the car park….