Addis Ababa, the new flower

Addis is a bizarre city. First some quick facts:
History: founded in 1886 by emperor Menelik II
Population: 3,384,569
Altitude: between 2300 and 3000 metres
Its name means new flower in Amharic, but believe me, it has nothing in common with a flower: it is ugly, very very polluted, no green whatsoever, very muddy during rainy season at least and it is in perpetual construction. At this point, you must think, great place to live! Well, actually it is. The town as a “je ne sais quoi” which make it vibrant. People are really lovely, shops are welcoming, there is tarmac everywhere (something that should never be taken for granted, ask my friend in Tanzania) and there is an intense yet not overwhelming activity. There is a lot of markets, vegetable shops, people doing stuff in the street such as washing your shoes, selling tissues or socks, walking somewhere in stilettos or in a more traditional outfit. I have been quite a few times now and I am still amazed by how I feel every time.
My first time, I went in bus (yes mam, in bus!!!!!!!) all by myself. And not once I felt threatened or just uncomfortable because of my European status. I was in a very crowded stinky bus, with only one fear, to miss my stop: Harat kilo. The trip costs 2birr (8cents), and they stopped only a few time. Each time, a guy shouts the name of the stop. A piece of cake! I walked to a “supermarket” (a small shop with a bit of everything) to find some cotton buds (apparently a rare thing in Addis), bought something for the pleasure to say thank you in Amharic and make a few people laugh, walked up to Sediest kilo, the next round about, stopped by the dry cleaner to pick up Ben’s suits, had my photo taken for my visa, visited the national museum where Lucie, our old ancestor is, and came back to the embassy. People said hi, someone came to introduce himself, I made a few people laugh (especially in the museum, apparently I have more success than Lucie! Age before beauty isn’t it?) and I felt great walking by myself. I actually really like Addis, it is surprising at time, very colourful, a bit daunting because so big, but it is a real adventure, I will meet a lot of nice people and despite the poverty and the people who are mutilated, I don’t feel too overwhelmed. I think it is less tough than India and people are not over you all the time.
I have since done my shopping all by myself and bought my first cross (negotiated down to 100 birr!, £4). The vegetable shop is my favourite place. The guy knows me now and every time he greets me by Ben’s friend (gwadannya). I buy a lot of fruits and veg for more or less 150 birr (£7) and he chooses them one by one (2kilos of tomatoes chosen one by one can take some time). The supermarkets are a bit unremarkable and expensive I found. The westerner’s favourite, Bambis, is Greek-owned, so you can find tahini and olives but it is seriously missing of nice chocolate, so if you ever fancy sending me something…
I got an emergency leak in my bathroom and a man explaining in half Amharic half English that it is because of the overflow, I have to go!