Ethiopia > Flight back to Addis Ababa

I get up leisurely. Today I’m flying back to Addis Ababa. The flight is at 12:15, which means I can have a relaxed breakfast and pack my luggage. At ten o’clock, I leave the hotel in Lalibela and head toward Lalibela Airport—a 25-kilometer drive. I quickly check in my luggage.

Ethiopia - A falcon flies past

The plane has not yet arrived; at the moment, there isn’t a single aircraft on the airfield. At 11:45, I see the propeller plane land and taxi toward the terminal. Boarding begins almost immediately. Slightly ahead of schedule, we take off toward Gondar. The plane will make a stop there before continuing to Addis Ababa. Less than thirty minutes later, the plane lands in Gondar. A few passengers quickly get off, and new passengers board. Then we take off for the second time—this time for a fifty-minute flight. It is two o’clock when I see Addis Ababa below me—over half an hour earlier than planned. At the airport, I meet driver Jonas again. Jonas drove the bus from Axum back to Addis Ababa. I shake his hand warmly and give him the traditional Ethiopian shoulder press greeting. He visibly enjoys seeing the travel group again. He drives us to the same hotel as last week, located in the suburbs of Addis Ababa. A surprise awaits us: tonight’s dinner is included, which was not part of the original plan. It replaces tomorrow’s lunch. Although I would have liked to explore more of Addis Ababa, I decide to stay in the area around the hotel. I stroll through the streets, look at some shops, and settle on a cozy terrace opposite the hotel. I am surprised at how neatly and stylishly everyone is dressed. This is clearly one of the better neighborhoods of Addis Ababa—a stark contrast to the areas I visited over the past few days.