Buna in Bishoftu

Excitement builds and preparations continue.  In the past we have always traveled on the cusp of rainy season. Rainy season is June through August and can range from drizzle to tropical downpours. Although on prior trips our family has never opted for malaria preventatives, this time we have chosen to take Malarone. Word on this street is this medication can cause dizziness and vivid dreams but given all we hope to accomplish on this trip and the relationship between wet weather and mosquitoes we wish to leave nothing to chance. Below is the 10 day forecast for both places we will be visiting.

Three days until lift off. Our living room is a war zone. The more I do, the more I realize I need to do. And yet, 4.5 days from now it won't matter much about most left on my list. We will have arrived. So why Buna in Bishoftu? Buna is more than coffee. It is the entire act of brewing it and is often ceremonial in Ethiopia. Bishoftu? Bishoftu or Debre Zeyit is located approximately 20 miles southeast of Addis Ababa. It is a town with several crater lakes. It is a popular international tourist destination, a place of weekend retreat for many of Addis' middle/upper class and most importantly home to some very important people in T's life. Bishoftu will be our home base for the majority of our trip.  Welcome to our odyssey...long time coming, promised for years to our 10 year old. It is a return to home, to roots, to culture, to identity, to family, to love.