very good blog congratulations
regard from Catalonia Spain

pretty good andrew!
Was on Bole road flying round in a taxi.Because the police blocked pretty much every road the traffic snarled up. As soon as the clock struck 12, however, Addis-style road rage changed into street carnival euphoria - peeps jumping on their cars, hugging each other, loud music from a thousand car stereos, women 'ululululuing' etc...
good for them

What do you mean by "Menem yellum"?

Now I know why I never liked an English.

Happy new Millennium to you as well, Andrew. We miss your pix from Addis and the rest of Ethiopia. Take care in the Sudan

Andrew, thanks ... i guess. Where I was it was also 'minim yellum'

Dan, I've no clue why but I though he was Scottish? but yeah, if you're going to hate, the English are a better target so keep hatin'. lol (min arege?)

Hi Andrew. Millennium eve was festive and trouble-free. No fights or police heavy-handedness. "Everybody" was on the street or at the stadium hearing concerts. The swells who could afford the ETB 1500 entrance fee were at the big new Millennium Hall hearing the Black-Eyed Peas and other musical groups. Most of the shows at Meskal Square were cancelled. And... we got SMS back as a new year's gift from ETC.

What's it like there being a Ferenge (Arabic word for Ferenge?) during Ramadan? Do people get peeved if you have lunch?

Hi Marc - the Sudanese version of ferenge is khawaja. I haven't had any hassle eating during ramadan so far - although I am not exactly hanging out on street corners with a burger either. Everyone tells me it is no problem for non-muslims to be seen eating. Just as a precaution, I guess, most of the restaurants with open air bits have put up sheets or some kind of barrier, to shield the diners from anyone passing.