We returned to the guesthouse to get cleaned up to go out for a night 'on the town' with Dr. Yerud who was taking us to a very fancy restaurant called "Yod Abyssinia Cultural Restaurant" so we could experience some traditional Ethiopian food and entertainment. Before leaving, he presented us with gifts and again expressed his thanks to us for our interest in and concern for the Ethiopian people.
Upon arriving at the restaurant, we were seated in a semi-circle around low tables facing the stage. There was a band playing some odd looking string instruments called krars and masenkos accompanied by a drummer. The evening began with a ceremonial hand-washing and then the meal was served. It's called injera and consists of a large (almost table sized) piece of spongy pancake-like bread with little dabs of food and sauces in the middle. Everyone tears small pieces of injera off the sides and uses them to pinch up a bite of food which is then popped into your mouth. I won't go into detail here, but I will say that I am not a big fan of injera! But I did eat some to be polite.
After dinner, we were entertained by a very energetic troupe of dancers performing the traditional Ethiopian dance called Eskista. I got tired just watching them! Soon it was time to say good-night and head back to the guesthouse so we could pack up and get ready to fly to Kenya in the morning.
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