The last destination on our 3 part journey was Sidamo and Yirga Cheffe areas of South Ethiopia. We were hoping to get to Moredocofe in the Gjui area near Shakisso, but there are local problems between the farmers and gold miners in the area. If they mistook us Faranji (foreigner) as gold miners, we might be in trouble, so we ahd to re-route. We focused on visiting cooperatives (Unions) in Yirga Cheffe and Sidamo. This was a harvest trip, not a cupping trip, a time of the crop cycle to see the picking of cherry and processing, whereas if you come in April it's great for cupping stocklots from the warehouse, but there is no coffee production going on. I was with Jeremy, and we met Aleco Chigounis and his dad Tony Chigounis in Addis. Aleco is with Stumptown, his dad with old school Lacas Coffee in Philly ... a rare thing when 2 generations are in coffee in the US. Wim van Kooten of Trabocca pulled it all together and kept things sane, somewhat. Of course getting stuck in the mud after a downpour on a distant road near Hache was not in the plans, nor was the missing airplane that was supposed to get us to Addis from Kenya in the first place, but it just adds a bit of spice to any coffee sourcing trip. I mean, it was going way too smoothly up until then. -Tom
We Do Things Differently, but it sure doesn't look like it. Leaving Addis - Ethiopia
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More than a fender bender. Leavoing Addis for the south. - Ethiopia
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Roadside cattle drive near Lake Ziway - Ethiopia
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Not a lot of Camels on this route, since it is not nomads here. - Ethiopia
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Ant hills, or could their be some VERY large cattle in the area? Lake Ziway area - Ethiopia
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Jeremy and his damn smiley face (cookie that is)- Ethiopia
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Cow and Booze Hotel - Ethiopia
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Why is this bull looking away? Is he embarassed? - Ethiopia
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Hair Style Signs No. 1 - Ethiopia
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Oromo House near Lake Ziway - Ethiopia
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Hair Style Signs No. 2- Ethiopia
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Advertising in Awassa. I think a Sweet Maria's billboard in Awassa would be a great idea - Ethiopia
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Ill-conceived bar name in Awassa, Ethiopia
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A great place for an old herder to get a Harar beer. Kids welcome too. Awassa,- Ethiopia
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Sidama House near Awassa - Ethiopia
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Colorful houses near Lake Lagano - Ethiopia
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Do petrol trucks flip over quite often here? - Ethiopia
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Local color, Kuyera area- Ethiopia
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Ethiopia Moderne
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Market day Negele- Ethiopia
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Lacking a healthy respect for cars and trucks, Near Kuyera - Ethiopia
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Roadside graves near Kuyera- Ethiopia
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Cow butts near Awassa - Ethiopia
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Watch out for bloody dead corpses in the road (?) outside Awassa - Ethiopia
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View of Awassa, or Hawassa, or A-Whas-Up?- Ethiopia
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Bedele. Not at all the worst beer in Ethiopia. Dilla, Ethiopia
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The famous or infamous Get Smart Hotel in Dilla, Ethiopia
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Meeting with Yirga Cheffe Union folks and Haddis at the Rendevous in Dilla, Ethiopia
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Pensive waiter poses with statue at the Rendevvous in Dilla, Ethiopia
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They got it all. And quality service too! Dilla, Ethiopia
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Harar Sofi, Beer and Hakim Stout ad, in Dilla, Ethiopia
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More painted cattle in Dilla - Ethiopia
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Truck Wash, I mean, river crossing, I mean, Truck Wash. - Ethiopia
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A warning not to get in a wrestling match with another Toyota Land Cruiser. You WILL flip over. Ethiopia
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Roadway as the sun gets low, near Yirg Alem- Ethiopia
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Local domestic decor, near Yirga Cheffe - Ethiopia
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Local materials Mud, Hay, Banana leaf - Ethiopia
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Hair Style Signs No. 3 - Ethiopia
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At town near Worka. Local attitude. - Ethiopia
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Local excitement, Worka Town- Ethiopia, GPS Image
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A lumpy and rumpled man playing a flute? or brushing his teeth? - Ethiopia
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Near Worka town, Kochere area. - Ethiopia
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Traditional painting along the road to Worka Union- Ethiopia
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Worka Town photo hounds - Ethiopia
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Jeremy shares pictures- Ethiopia
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Children care for children, Worka town- Ethiopia
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Local architecture, with padlock. - Ethiopia
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Worka town locals- Ethiopia
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