Metal Detectors, A Passel of Prostitutes, and the Five Star Paradox

After leaving the airport we drove about 20 minutes through Addis to our hotel. On the way I was struck by two things 1. the amount of people (in the hundreds possibly thousands) wandering around on the street. I was told by the driver, "Wait until Monday. No one is out on the weekends."

2. the slums. Addis is a city of 6 million people 80% of whom are estimated to live in shanty towns. As we drove to our 5-star hotel, I felt guilty and sad passing by makeshift house after makeshift house.

Arriving at our hotel was one of the most striking contrasts I have ever experienced. The abject poverty immediately followed by the excessive luxury of the Sheraton seemed all wrong as did the frowning man who opened the door for us in a top hat and tails.

First order of business was for everything to go through the medical detectors TSA style with possible search to follow. After gawking at the pristine lobby, it's fountain, and dessert bar, we checked in and went to our rooms briefly (beautifully decorated) before having a meeting with one of the pediatric surgeons in town. In our meeting we set up clinic for the next day. Post meeting I grabbed my jump rope (yes I brought my own workout equipment and I am ok with you rolling your eyes) and headed out to explore the grounds (read as find a gym. What? I had been traveling for 20 hours). Sadly there isn't a gym, however they will bring a stationary bike to your room for the duration of your stay. There was, however, a fun mini-representation of the hotel, lots of fountains, a beautiful pool, gardens, an amazingly dangerous and fun playground, a spa, and a weird field of plastic gnomes, a Santa and a snow man.

In my wandering near the terrace I ran into ten gussied up really beautiful women in brightly colored spandex. Obviously this is where I decided to jump rope. Let the games begin! I guessed correctly that they were working women. Hands down this was one of the most interesting workouts I have done, and I discovered i can definitely work on my sashay.

After the workout I got ready for dinner with the team at one of the hotel's 5 restaurants, a buffet with a variety of local and international choices including one of the spiciest dishes (Indian) I have eaten in a very long time.

When dinner was over, I decided to try to get on the internet which despite reports of it being questionable worked really well. One thing that I have never understood, which seems to be a world-wide phenomenon, is why do they charge for things like wifi/Internet at the fancy hotels (17 dollars a day here. And furthermore in Ethiopia what on earth costs $17 a day?)? Its always free at the motel 6 and the best western? Once I stayed in Nashville at the cheapest hotel we could find (picture room numbers written on pieces of tape on the doors) and we had free internet. Does this make sense to anyone? In my mind a hotel having internet in your room these days is equivalent to having running water or at least a second towel. I always picture booking agents smirking as they say "That will be 500 dollars (pretax) would you like any add-ins like wifi?"

In sum the hotel is lovely. I am lucky and excited to be here. Day 1 was great :)

Pictures:
The doorman
Sunset on the terrace
Looking out the front door
The view from the hill above
Views from various balconies (Dr. Sparks fountain view, me the field)
Scary field of gnomes
Me on the playground :)