Yesterday morning around 9am local time the Taitu hotel in Addis Ababa caught fire. The hotel is located in the Piassa neighborhood of Addis Ababa and is one of the oldest building in the city. The building was established under the order of Empress Taitu around 1907. The fire is said to have started in the kitchen and engulfed most of the front of the building as well as completely destroying the Jazzamba lounge located just next door to the hotel. There are some pictures of the damage below.
Kenyan Countryside
I recently took a trip down to Kenya to see a bit of the countryside and visit friends living in Nairobi. We spent a few days traveling by car a bit northwest of Nairobi, Naivasha as well as Nakuru National Park. We saw loads of animals: many zebra and wild birds, water buffalo, giraffes as well as antelopes and dik dik - and even a famous white rhino. I had a really great time and I'm thinking about going back next month for the Maasai Olympics in Amboseli national park. Will keep you posted on that one. Here are some pictures from the trip.
Addis Ababa Lightrail walk
Went on a walk the other day for a few hours just to follow the lightrail construction. I think this will develop into a new project. I plan to investigate not only the construction but also the activities and changing lifestyles effected by the big demolition and redevelopment of the roadways. I admit some of these pics are not of the train line - but threw them in for good measure!
Ayka Addis: Turkish textile factory in Ethiopia
I was recently published in the magazine Les Echos (France) for pictures related to the textile industry here in Ethiopia. The factory, named Ayka Addis, is owned by a Turkish company and employs more than 3000 employees. Here are some tearsheets and the link.