I apologize to folks who are expecting me to be able to email them directly. I can't just now, as every time I use the internet for about 5 minutes, and maybe am able to read 1 email, it shuts down again. I've tried several times today, each time we have to reconnect on dial up because the whole country's internet is down. Several people have apologized for it, on behalf of the country.

But, here we are in the lovely Panorama Hotel--which if you have not yet experienced a 3rd world country 4* hotel, is a good example. It is clean and people are very friendly. It is not organized in the same way as a North American hotel would be and folks might have to be patient. All the enamel plumbing is new in the rooms, and works well. (In the airport last night, this was not so true.) There is an individual water heater, British style in the bathroom, so we have lots for two of us to shower. Last night we were in a different room, but today we have changed, slightly smaller room with a MUCH better view of the city, and for a lower price. There is lots of closet space, but not many hangers (we have one between us).

We arrived in the airport last night and many many people did not have Visas. We stood in line about 1 hour (we were almost at the end of the line) but there were no problems. On the Tourist Entry Card (given on the plane) we checked "conference" and we told we should check "vacation" but then we are here for much longer than just the Diamond Jubliee. We checked both boxes and that seemed to be OK. The cost was $20 US. (They do not accept Canadian there, and it is not possible to change money until after Customs. They also do not accept travellers cheques, so everyone needs $20.00 cash.) They did not ask us nor anyone else for pictures; there is no place on the visa for a picture, in fact.

We ate breakfast in the hotel restaurant this morning. It is self serve and can seat about 50 people at one time. There were rolls and jam/peanut butter, boiled eggs, scrambled eggs with some herb (tasty), an Ethiopian salad with boiled eggs, peppers, lettuce, herbs and one spicy hot pepper which I happened to get. Whew! Also there was delicious coffee with hot milk and hot water for tea. I will talk to the manager here and ask him to be sure that when you come there will be enough food prepared each morning for the influx at about the same time of all the choir...as this morning there would not have been enough. And all preparation takes time in Africa! We also had a lunch meal--"Chicken with mushroom sauce"--delicious, farm fresh chicken in yummy sauce, served with rice and steamed julienne vegetables. about $8 Cdn, therefore about $6.50 USD. Currently, about 9.9 Ethiopian Birr = 1 USD. Taxi from the airport, government taxi, was $10 US. Hotel can change money; bank is across the street. It is beautiful here.

I have to send this quickly because it takes so long to do and the internet is about to shut down again. The Baha'i centre called me today and said they had received my email, email from Van and the Pioneer Committee in Canada. (All internet having been shut down in the entire country for several days, they are very excited to have it back. There is not wirless capacity right now, either, although routers abound.) They are very excited to have us come...could hardly believe it in fact.

Will email as I can. The war between Israel and Pakistan put down the internet for the whole Mediterranean I'm told and so there has been no internet here for several days.