We're here!

Hi!  This is Becca - posting for Gini (she could not get it to send through blogger!)

Today we chased the morning and followed the night into Ethiopia.

We left NY at 10pm on Sunday night and landed in Ethiopia at 9pm on Monday night.  We traveled by plane for 15 hours.  8 hours to Germany.  7 hours to Ethiopia.  A one hour lay-over in between.  But, I wouldn’t call it much of a lay-over.  Maybe more of a run-around!  One hour to get from one end of airport to another and through security again is not so much time! :)

As we flew here from Germany we saw the majestic alps juxtaposed by the mediterrean see followed by the vast sands of the Western Desert of Africa.  Gorgeous and desolate.  We saw the sun set over the Nile River.  Then we noticed the sparse villages of light just before the surprising metropolis of lights of Addis Ababa. 

We met up with the other couple who is traveling with us in the Visa line at the airport.  So fun! Collected our bins—all 5 made it safe and sound!  (We left one behind in case we would have had to pay for the any bins over 4—thankfully we didn’t—it was such a smooth process!)  And then all headed to the Riviera Hotel by van.  We cleaned up and toppled into bed. :)

I just woke up to a most beautiful view out our window.  A vast field full of walking people and grazing donkeys.  And a busy road of cars and trucks.

In just one hour we are leaving here to meet our little girl for the first time.  It still feels so surreal.  I can’t wrap my mind around the reality that we’re actually here.  But love it!

Before I forget, this is completely random, but quite unbelievable.  Apparently in Austria they make crackers that look just like J!   I was laughing so hard I was having trouble taking the picture.