Circle:
Well, it is 2011. And, the "recovery" of Pole Pole (1967 22' Columbia sailboat) is onway...slowly, slowly. As some of you may know Pole Pole mast snapped in 2009 while we were sailing…that another story. This year we didn’t have a mast, so no sailing on Pole Pole. And, so far, we may have a mast this year!!!
So, we decided to refinish Pole Pole….oh, by the way Pole Pole (pronounced Polee Polee) is Swahilian for slowly, slowly.
What did I learn in 2010? A lot! Not that the "recovery" is complete...but I'm learning boat-speak at least!
2010 LESSONS:
**TOP Lesson**
The older your boat is, it is a pit where your money goes! If your worried that THAT money is gone...You're right. If you decide to sell your boat, you'd never see the money that you spent for her refinishing. BUT, if you love your boat (Pole Pole you are testing us!) and you see that is THE boat...go ahead and spend with love!
1. Always research your projects: ask your colleagues at the boat club, read the Don Casey's Sailboat Maintenance Manual, "google" information and finally, ask the experts!
I started worrying about Pole Pole's fibreglass deck...was it rotten? I read about fibreglass, searched it on the internet and asked anyone who would listen. Then, I talked with Garnet (Seamasters Service) and he assessed Pole Pole's deck. All that worry that for not! Garnet reassured me that I didn't have to be worried...Pole Pole does not need fibreglass "surgery". Whew...that's expensive! And, I don't need to worry about coring...Pole Pole deck doesn't contain a balsa plywood core - it's just fibreglass. Go figure!
Because there's was rust on the chainplates, I worried that the bulkhead was rotten. And, would need to be replaced...not so. Garnet says the bulkhead was solid and it's more difficult to replace. The faut-wood laminate could be replaced with not too trouble...we live with it, for now.
The hull looks good, other than the corrosion on the steel keel. First, I decided I would sand the hull to the fibreglass skin, then apply 6-8 layers of Interlux InterProtect 2000E...Garnet recommended not to do that...the anti-fouling paint that we applied last year was good and the hull was good. So, now sand the keel to the steel and apply barrier InterProtect OR AWLGrip since I bought a gallon!
I questioned the experts (mostly, Lee) at The Binnacle on products and equipment...thank-you Lee for your patience.
2. One step at a time.
Bag and tag everything that you take off from the boat, so you know where it came from.
Write down how to put it on and take a picture, if possible (actually, this is a must for me!).
3. Respect metals in a marine environment that you use on your boat
Two different metals linked in the presence of an electrolyte (sea-water)corrode: the noble metal will corrode the less noble metal (look below at the galvanic chart and the chart for fasteners for fittings.
(Classic Marine)
4. Don't use aluminum on your boat...it always the less noble metal
BUT, if you decide to use aluminum for your backing plates, visit Metal-'R'-Us (Burnside). First, I bought aluminum for backing plates (3/16") because that was what others were doing...I 'googled' backing plates to see what others were doing. Until I discussed with my marine engineer friend. If you would 3/16" aluminum, ask me and I will give you what I have. Metals-'R'-Us carried stainless steel but don't drill the holes...with aluminum I could drill myself but not stainless steel, so at Metal-'R'-Us advice I went to Weld-Pro. For the aluminum cut-outs, I spent $25, not bad for education! For the stainless steel cut-outs with the holes already drilled, I spent $280.
5. The winter cover-up tarp doesn't work with me BUT fights against my will!
Do you know many times I cleaned water out from the inside of the boat? Only to find that "Weather" removed it again and again and again!
6. I can learn new things!!! Even though I had a stroke! Slowly, slowly.
2010 Progress:
1. Sanded the deck: ready to repair the cracks with epoxy.
2. Took all fittings off - you should see the garage and my ping-pong table!
3. Cleaned all fittings and bought new bolts, washers and nuts.
A lot of the screws were bent...not good. And, I replace the fasteners with noble stainless steel. Note: Don't buy your fasteners at Kent or Home Depot...too expensive! Shop at Trans-World Distributing Ltd.
I soaked the deck fitting in vinegar overnight. Then, started scrubbing with a small wire brush. Wow, I learned that the fittings were bronze or brass...hard to tell! I decided the fittings were bronze (orginal from a 1967 boat). I showed my marine engineer friend, Richard, the cleaned fittings. He told me to think about having them polished to a mirror finish or buy stainless steel fittings so I wouldn't have to maintain them. We decided to keep the bronze fittings, but we pursued having them polished. So, Richard and I went to Zenith Electroplating for a price. WOW! It is EXPENSIVE! Better to buy new...so much for that...polishing to a mirror finish approximately $500...gulp! Right now, Pole Pole's bronze deck fittings are in the UK...Richard took them to his factory to work on polishing. Thank-you Richard.
4. Ordered stainless steel backing plates with drilled holes for deck fittings (WeldPro Limited)
The cost of the stainless backing plates was $250.
I also cut 3/8" marine plywood (sheet of mahogany marine plywood $60) as backing for the stainless backing plates. I will apply a barrier (AWLGrip) on the plywood.
If you using plywood for your backing plates, Halifax Specialty Woods (in the Industrial Park off Hammonds Plains Rd) has mahogany marine plywood (I bought 3/16")and teak marine plywood for "dressy" things. They also carry IPE (great for decking on your boat or at home) and Afromasia as alternatively for teak. IPE lasts at least 50 years or more! Thank-you Cheryl for your patience.
Eastern Specialty Hardwoods (Burnside Industrial Park)also carries marine plywood (couldn't find their website).
5. I cut new compartments lids
The old ones had mildew on them and were warped.
I will apply AWLGrip barrier on them.
6. I sanded the wood rails, tiller, doorway and all wood in the cabin.
Then I decided to get new teak for any wood that was used on the boat.
Now, I am conditioning the teak with lemon oil (mildew doesn't like lemon), preparing to coat with (Cetol) or...maybe just teak oil.
7. Took the hatch off and sanded it preparing to paint it.
8. Took the counter that holds the sink and cooler and sand it preparing to paint it.
9. Success with the tarp (I hope! But it's only January...)
10. Took the windows out...kinda...almost...okay, not really, but I'm planning for it.
Now what? See the next blog for the plans....
Monday, January 17, 2011
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Way-ho Deck Hardware Away
Circle:
Sunday was a beautiful day and Square and I removed the deck hardware. But, I was worried about the bow deck...might need someone to look at it. Our prow seemed a little shaky...I wouldn't want it to protect me from the sea...maybe Square, not me! I believe that if I put on weight on it, I might be swept off the deck into the sea WITH the prow.
What to do! Better to be safe and know. But, might need an expert on fibreglass...is it rotted, cored, soggy...and all the words about fibreglass problems!
While Square was sit on the deck supervising the yard...prime time for boat removal with the club's boom....and I worried! The "what if" worries.
On Monday, I sanded the 'crazing' and the cracks...I think I got most of them. Next, open up the cracks so the epoxy can bond in the cracks and crazing.
Inside the cabin, I stripped all the wood to take it home to refinish in my garage. Then, I will start grinding the crazing in the cabin and the cracks in the gel-coat to prepare to begin epoxy.
We live in the Maritimes and winter is coming so I have to work when I can...it would be great to have the boat in a building so I can work all winter and have Pole Pole shape-ship! Does anyone have a building in Halifax where I can work on Pole Pole for free????
Sunday was a beautiful day and Square and I removed the deck hardware. But, I was worried about the bow deck...might need someone to look at it. Our prow seemed a little shaky...I wouldn't want it to protect me from the sea...maybe Square, not me! I believe that if I put on weight on it, I might be swept off the deck into the sea WITH the prow.
What to do! Better to be safe and know. But, might need an expert on fibreglass...is it rotted, cored, soggy...and all the words about fibreglass problems!
While Square was sit on the deck supervising the yard...prime time for boat removal with the club's boom....and I worried! The "what if" worries.
On Monday, I sanded the 'crazing' and the cracks...I think I got most of them. Next, open up the cracks so the epoxy can bond in the cracks and crazing.
Inside the cabin, I stripped all the wood to take it home to refinish in my garage. Then, I will start grinding the crazing in the cabin and the cracks in the gel-coat to prepare to begin epoxy.
We live in the Maritimes and winter is coming so I have to work when I can...it would be great to have the boat in a building so I can work all winter and have Pole Pole shape-ship! Does anyone have a building in Halifax where I can work on Pole Pole for free????
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Pole Pole...Where is thy mast?
Circle:
No mast! How can you be a sailor if you don't have a mast to set up your sails? Grrrr!!!
The season almost finished and Pole Pole (pronounced Polee Polee) doesn't have a mast! We are frustrated. Our rigger hasn't done a good job of finding a second-hand mast for Square's 22 Columbia....maybe there isn't second-hand mast for 22 Columbia or another one that might fit!
Our insurance claim assayer said why don't you get a sleeve on the broken mask...our rigger doesn't like that idea. The mast snapped off at the middle where the spreaders are connected due to metal fatigue, if the mast has metal fatigue Square is worried that a sleeve isn't a good idea either. Okay, could Square buy a new mast? No....it would be at least $6000. I called a company to have a quote for a sleeve, so we'll see.
But, in the meantime ....what to do?
Well, when Square was away in Ethiopia in July, I decided to surprise her by fixing Pole Pole's deck blisters....didn't seem to be hard. I googled about blisters and read Don Casey's book about blisters. At first, there was about 6 blisters, but when I started open them up and sanded them...I found more...and more and more. I had to warn Square that Pole Pole wasn't pretty anymore.
And, the more I read and search about repairs to fibreglass boats, the more I was scared that Pole Pole would need to be put down...
Circle:
So, I decided to talk with our insurance claims assayer to see what Square's options would be. Stu (claims assayer) told us that Pole Pole was a good boat, but any money that we would put on Pole Pole wouldn't come if Square wanted to sell because of the Pole Pole age. Hmmm....I wouldn't want anyone to decide that because I was old, it wasn't worthwhile to spend money on me! Sounds wrong...there must be a way to make things better. So, Square and me decided (argued) that 'we' would repair Pole Pole this year. After all, if your horse 'bucked' you, better to get on again and bond with your horse!
On fine days, I go to Pole Pole and fought for territory that the seagulls and sea birds captured...oh my god, everytime I would go to the moor there were 4-6 birds on board and they had no giving up "their" boat where they ate and shit! I'm not accustomized in my bathroom...but they seem to be accustomizing to eating on their table!
It takes 2 hours to clean their bathroom before I'm ready to work on Pole Pole! And, everytime I go, it's the same!
So, I decided with Square's agreement that Pole Pole should move to the marina. Then, the birds wouldn't land on Pole Pole AND I could use my tools....did I tell I bought grinder and a dremel...I had to, to repair the boat!
Right now, I bet you are thinking "Why is the boat on the water if she can't sail?" Well.....we decided that we could bob on the water and motor, waiting to our rigger to find a @!#%^& mast!
And, our trailer is getting a redo and isn't ready yet to move the boat to the yard.
So, now Square and I have taken most of the deck hardware away to reset them and to paint.....I haven't sanded all of the deck...yet! But, I'm prepared to reset the deck hardware, ports, hatch and old holes.
Resources:
Virtual Boatyard
West Systems
Thursday, April 1, 2010
We Arise Again!
Circle:
Hard to believe that it’s time to raise the sails....our second season of sailing! Easter is a big celebration for Pole Pole. Square and I will scrape, sand and paint her hull AND.....
Square:
Well in order to raise a sail we need to get a sail! That being said, the old girl (the boat not Circle) is getting her much needed replacement “parts’. If you recall, last fall was a short season because of two things.
(1) We are new sailors and didn’t get the boat in the water until mid-July when I took possession of her, then...
(2) we had a bit of a disaster....kinda. On a sunny long weekend day...whilst sailing....the mast snapped in half. So, sails, rigging, and mast fell into the Bedford Basin. Yup....nothing like drawing attention to ourselves.
Circle:
Which we already did on the rocks.....a few times. Someone (Square) isn’t very good navigator.....good thing Santa gave her chart of the Bedford Basin.
Even though we’re virgin sailors, we knew that the mast shouldn’t do that. There were 3 people on board....Bruce (a well seasoned sailor), Square (the Captain) and me (crew). We look at each other, as if .......that shouldn’t happen, should it?????
Square:
It was the one and only time that Circle was at the helm. She is good at disregarding orders and questioning her captain. We’ve had more fights on the boat and on more than one occasion I threatened to throw her overboard. “CREW”...she’s more of a pain in the ass! So after yet another “post-mortem” on how it could have been a better experience, it was decided that Circle see what it’s like to be responsible and be the “captain for a day”. See what happened....she broke the boat. I might have put her on the rocks...well it wasn’t really me, Circle didn’t take the sail down when asked so we just kept on motoring towards shore...
Circle:
“Oh Captain, my Captain”.....I was busy trying to push Pole Pole from crashing into another boats!!
Square:
Yeah...whatever! Anyways...we’ve drawn attention to ourselves before. So a mast snapping topped anything that happened before....but it’s not the end of the world. I now have a motor boat!!! :)
Thankfully nobody was hurt, Bruce was with us, and everybody was nearby to assist and rescue us once again. Boy, were we the talk of the club!
So after filing “incident reports”, tolerating inspections, and filling out more paperwork...it was determined that the mast suffered from metal fatigue or “osteoporoses”. So a new mast, rigging, and main sail are on the horizon and like a phoenix...Pole Pole will rise again.
Circle:
You know...Square and I decided we needed Seamanship classes. We did that. But, didn’t finish because we went to Ethiopia! And, I had a problem understanding the content of the course. AND, every class, Square whispered to me....”We’re never getting out of the Basin”......pessimist!
Square:
Did you hear that..she had a problem understanding the content! I knew the truth would come out...who really was to blame for being on the rocks. Yup....and this is why Santa brought Circle a hat that says “crew” and I got a Captain’s hat. So we can also read when we need to know who’s in charge.
Process that!!!
Captain’s log ....April 1st, 2010
Hard to believe that it’s time to raise the sails....our second season of sailing! Easter is a big celebration for Pole Pole. Square and I will scrape, sand and paint her hull AND.....
Square:
Well in order to raise a sail we need to get a sail! That being said, the old girl (the boat not Circle) is getting her much needed replacement “parts’. If you recall, last fall was a short season because of two things.
(1) We are new sailors and didn’t get the boat in the water until mid-July when I took possession of her, then...
(2) we had a bit of a disaster....kinda. On a sunny long weekend day...whilst sailing....the mast snapped in half. So, sails, rigging, and mast fell into the Bedford Basin. Yup....nothing like drawing attention to ourselves.
Circle:
Which we already did on the rocks.....a few times. Someone (Square) isn’t very good navigator.....good thing Santa gave her chart of the Bedford Basin.
Even though we’re virgin sailors, we knew that the mast shouldn’t do that. There were 3 people on board....Bruce (a well seasoned sailor), Square (the Captain) and me (crew). We look at each other, as if .......that shouldn’t happen, should it?????
Square:
It was the one and only time that Circle was at the helm. She is good at disregarding orders and questioning her captain. We’ve had more fights on the boat and on more than one occasion I threatened to throw her overboard. “CREW”...she’s more of a pain in the ass! So after yet another “post-mortem” on how it could have been a better experience, it was decided that Circle see what it’s like to be responsible and be the “captain for a day”. See what happened....she broke the boat. I might have put her on the rocks...well it wasn’t really me, Circle didn’t take the sail down when asked so we just kept on motoring towards shore...
Circle:
“Oh Captain, my Captain”.....I was busy trying to push Pole Pole from crashing into another boats!!
Square:
Yeah...whatever! Anyways...we’ve drawn attention to ourselves before. So a mast snapping topped anything that happened before....but it’s not the end of the world. I now have a motor boat!!! :)
Thankfully nobody was hurt, Bruce was with us, and everybody was nearby to assist and rescue us once again. Boy, were we the talk of the club!
So after filing “incident reports”, tolerating inspections, and filling out more paperwork...it was determined that the mast suffered from metal fatigue or “osteoporoses”. So a new mast, rigging, and main sail are on the horizon and like a phoenix...Pole Pole will rise again.
Circle:
You know...Square and I decided we needed Seamanship classes. We did that. But, didn’t finish because we went to Ethiopia! And, I had a problem understanding the content of the course. AND, every class, Square whispered to me....”We’re never getting out of the Basin”......pessimist!
Square:
Did you hear that..she had a problem understanding the content! I knew the truth would come out...who really was to blame for being on the rocks. Yup....and this is why Santa brought Circle a hat that says “crew” and I got a Captain’s hat. So we can also read when we need to know who’s in charge.
Process that!!!
Captain’s log ....April 1st, 2010
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Numerical Problems
Circle has difficulties with numbers (and writing, and reading, and processing, and...). So, the first blog is good.....Jan 2-3, 2010. BUT, after that the Final Week of Ethiopia appears followed by the other weeks in reverse order (Final, Week 3, Week 2 and Week 1).
Sorry. But, I had a stroke!
Sorry. But, I had a stroke!
Ethiopia Jan 2-3, 2010
Well I started a blog last night then promptly lost it due to technical difficulties. Very frustrating to say the least! It was supposed to be Judy’s blob but somehow it got passed along to me,,,,,hhhhhmmmmmm, suspicious.
Last nights blog had lots of Judy’s stories (snoring, mispronounciation/misinterpretations, childish wonderment)…but that was yesterday and I lost that “in the moment comic edge”.
So suffice it to say…..we have survived the trip and the first night in Addis….and are still speaking!!!
Yesterday (Saturday) was spent resting(for some), becoming acquainted with the property, buying sim cards and air time, exchanging money, buying water, and lounging poolside watching the kids playing in the pool. Very cute.
I have a couple picked out already for you Kimmie!!
Then the energizer bunny wanted to go outside the compound to visit another hotel. Sooo since I couldn’t detain or distract her any longer…and the armed security guard said it was safe….we tromped down to the Jupiter Hotel. Very nice and cozy…..I secretly think she’s worried that I’ll kick her out! And between her snoring all Friday night and wide awake Saturday night (so turned the light on to read, made tea, then when she did fall asleep…talked all night) I may just send her down the road!!
Today we are both tired but have booked a half day city tour. Our driver’s name is Tamrad. We left at 10am and didn’t get back until 3pm….wayyyyy overdue! Our first stop was the Trinity church, an Ethiopian Orthodox church built by Halle Salasse. Then we went to the National Archeological museum followed by Mt Entoto, and a drive through the closed Mercato market.
One thing I can say for Tam and maybe Ethiopians in general…….they know their history and their emperors/kings. Tam could rhyme off every piece of history from the Queen of Sheba (wow…she actually exists!!) to present day. “They” are very proud of their history..and being the oldest country in the world, I guess they should be! AND did you know that the Arc of the Covenant is in Ethiopia?? I thought Indiana Jones found that……I’m confused. Yup, it’s in Axum.
Then to end the tour Tam took us to the oldest restaurant…The Addis Ababa Restaurant…for some Tej. It is honey wine….or fermented honey. I had it before and I called it “straw turbid”!! So it was interesting to see if Judy had the same feeling. Her first reaction was “gasoline”! Kinda harsh I think but along the same lines. Anyway we sat in the smoky restaurant …sipping Tej…and asked Tam all kinds of questions. From tipping to communism to coffee ceremonies to life in Ethiopia. Anyway, maybe it was the Tej, but we are invited to his house for some food and coffee. Boy, wait ‘til his wife finds out!!!!!
Needless to say, we are booking another tour with him for next weekend. Work better not interfere!!!!
I think we will go to Adida Miriam (sp?)…and several UNESCO sites. The countryside is very beautiful….so more pics next weekend.
Tomorrow I start work and Gimpy will do language and has plans to roam about.
I guess being extremely religious pays off because there is little crime in the city. Those commandments and all!!
The worst is some pick pocketing and that’s if you carry money. Hint Hint Jude
I have no idea what’s in store for me tomorrow. So I’ll be prepared for anything Sand everything.!!
Tonight we are having a quiet evening in the bar skyping and blogging, followed by pizza in the pizzeria. Nothing says Ethiopia more that “pizza”!!!!
Soooooooo………..until tomorrow.
Denadere (goodnight)
Last nights blog had lots of Judy’s stories (snoring, mispronounciation/misinterpretations, childish wonderment)…but that was yesterday and I lost that “in the moment comic edge”.
So suffice it to say…..we have survived the trip and the first night in Addis….and are still speaking!!!
Yesterday (Saturday) was spent resting(for some), becoming acquainted with the property, buying sim cards and air time, exchanging money, buying water, and lounging poolside watching the kids playing in the pool. Very cute.
I have a couple picked out already for you Kimmie!!
Then the energizer bunny wanted to go outside the compound to visit another hotel. Sooo since I couldn’t detain or distract her any longer…and the armed security guard said it was safe….we tromped down to the Jupiter Hotel. Very nice and cozy…..I secretly think she’s worried that I’ll kick her out! And between her snoring all Friday night and wide awake Saturday night (so turned the light on to read, made tea, then when she did fall asleep…talked all night) I may just send her down the road!!
Today we are both tired but have booked a half day city tour. Our driver’s name is Tamrad. We left at 10am and didn’t get back until 3pm….wayyyyy overdue! Our first stop was the Trinity church, an Ethiopian Orthodox church built by Halle Salasse. Then we went to the National Archeological museum followed by Mt Entoto, and a drive through the closed Mercato market.
One thing I can say for Tam and maybe Ethiopians in general…….they know their history and their emperors/kings. Tam could rhyme off every piece of history from the Queen of Sheba (wow…she actually exists!!) to present day. “They” are very proud of their history..and being the oldest country in the world, I guess they should be! AND did you know that the Arc of the Covenant is in Ethiopia?? I thought Indiana Jones found that……I’m confused. Yup, it’s in Axum.
Then to end the tour Tam took us to the oldest restaurant…The Addis Ababa Restaurant…for some Tej. It is honey wine….or fermented honey. I had it before and I called it “straw turbid”!! So it was interesting to see if Judy had the same feeling. Her first reaction was “gasoline”! Kinda harsh I think but along the same lines. Anyway we sat in the smoky restaurant …sipping Tej…and asked Tam all kinds of questions. From tipping to communism to coffee ceremonies to life in Ethiopia. Anyway, maybe it was the Tej, but we are invited to his house for some food and coffee. Boy, wait ‘til his wife finds out!!!!!
Needless to say, we are booking another tour with him for next weekend. Work better not interfere!!!!
I think we will go to Adida Miriam (sp?)…and several UNESCO sites. The countryside is very beautiful….so more pics next weekend.
Tomorrow I start work and Gimpy will do language and has plans to roam about.
I guess being extremely religious pays off because there is little crime in the city. Those commandments and all!!
The worst is some pick pocketing and that’s if you carry money. Hint Hint Jude
I have no idea what’s in store for me tomorrow. So I’ll be prepared for anything Sand everything.!!
Tonight we are having a quiet evening in the bar skyping and blogging, followed by pizza in the pizzeria. Nothing says Ethiopia more that “pizza”!!!!
Soooooooo………..until tomorrow.
Denadere (goodnight)
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Final Week of Ethiopia
Anne:
Due to popular demand and now a feeling of guilt…we apologize for leaving you hanging and resume our blogging activities.
Our last week…..and still speaking! Hard to believe (to both), the time has flown by. Both work life and tourist life are now at a frantic pace. So much to do in a short period of time!!
At work… after 3 weeks of almost solitude…I can barely handle the attention. It does make the day go quickly though.
Life at the Hilton consists of a schedule… Gym, food, football. There are only so many days to finish shopping, try restaurants that we wanted to try or return to favorite haunts, and catch the evening’s matches in the African Cup of football.
We have become addicted to football. The lobby bar has turned into a sports bar of sorts. Big screen TV…lots of people sitting around watching the games…lots of cheering…so very festive. That’s usually where we end up for part or all of the game. Peanuts, wine/beer and maybe a snack. We usually get the same table…the servers know us (well we were there for a month!!) …..very comfortable indeed.
Tuesdays schedule was shopping. Back to the shops at Churchill for some bartering and rioting…dinner at Finfine (traditional). Did I mention the rioting??
Judy:
Okay, I know that was a dig at me! I told you about the learned hopelessness that I believed when the kids would ask for money. One day, I decided to give some of the kids things that they could sell (pencils, sharpeners and bracelets) when they ask me for money. So, I gave them things that they could sell…so they wouldn’t beg for money. My vision of making them entrepreneurs….it worked….kinda. Until I had a riot with the kids that gave product! Everyone wanted product! AND, fought about it with each other. I tried!
Anne:
She was “trying” all right. I am so done with shopping….need beer not bartering and tripping over yelling kids.
Anne:
Wednesday night we went to a new restaurant Sangam (Indian). We arrived at 6pm only to find out that it didn’t open until 6:30pm. So back in the cab and off we went to check out a guesthouse further down the road. I almost stayed here but CDC decided on the Hilton. Now after a brief look around the rooms, chat about the amenities, and a scan of the neighborhood …we can give our thumbs up or down to the bosses.
It’s 6:30 so back to the restaurant. Lights were off…2 people staring at us…..finally showing us to a table. Then we were ignored for another 10 minutes or so. Other diners came in and received the same welcome. We finally got menus and asked about a drink and were told “it’s locked”. No other explanation….
The other diners left and said they’d be back at 7pm. This restaurant is opened for lunch so there shouldn’t be this much confusion? We stood our ground.
After staring down the servers, cashier, host?...our order was taken. It was painful painful….little to no English versus little to no Amharic!
I can’t imagine that this is one of the higher rated eateries. Every table had a similar experience and even fight with this server.
But…the chef prevailed…and is was verrrry yummy indeed.
Thursday was my last day at work. I decided to take Friday off and have a day by the pool!! So to celebrate we went to the gym, the bar for football, then room service for the second half…and I even ordered fries and cake. Judy was still downstairs so I could sneak this in!!!
I know it sounds like a boring way to celebrate my last day of work…but I just wasn’t up for another “episode”. The city has become really busy because of an African Union Summit…so more traffic and roads closed for passing dignitaries. It was nice to spend some time with “friends”.
Ahhhhhhhhhh………Friday. First time by the pool…how sad is that!!! Baked and broiled until early afternoon then it was off to the gym then dinner. We tried to get reservations at Castillo’s (top Italian joint) but to no avail. African presidents and prime ministers are in town so no room for mangy tourists. So we went to DonVito’s…
Traffic is a nightmare….
Judy:
Gech came over on Friday evening and came to dinner with us. I had tried to see Afamily this week, but I couldn’t reach her…maybe she was off of her guardian angel post!
And, I didn’t see Adane and Brook either ;(
Oh well….next time!
Saturday was packing day….we had to pack our stuff AND unpack and repack a large suitcase that was too heavy, from the family of our friends in Halifax!
Anne:
I knew we bought stuff but when it is shoved in the closet for weeks on end you kind of forget. You should have seen the room Saturday morning! Disaster zone!! We couldn’t get a late checkout because of the African Summit so had to be out by noon…housekeeping keeps banging on the door….wow, talk about pressure packing. And what the hell are we going to do with kilos and kilos of spice and unknown white powder which I’m hoping is flour!
When Tigest brought the suitcase on Thursday I could barely lift it off the floor…I know they weigh the bags at Bole airport so it’s time to be creative!!
Well…she did it. Jude was an amazing packer and we were out of the room by 11:30!
Our shuttle doesn’t leave until 7pm and our flight is at 11pm, so we hunkered down for some coffee and TV at our table in the bar.
And since there was still an ounce of space left in one suitcase, we called Tesfu and went shopping. We had to buy green coffee beans and Tej for family dinner and Missy wanted stamps. It should have been a quick spree but those *#% dignitaries shut down the city for almost an hour, so we sat in the car and waited and waited until finally the road was open. Even as it was Tesfu couldn’t use the road in front of the Hilton so we had to jump out and make our way through the back gates. Actually it made us glad that we were leaving that night! Wayyyy too frustrating.
Tesfu is such a sweetie…he bought us going away presents and gave us some traditional music. Ahhhhhh….he likes us! Or he feels guilty for having to count our panties??
What we thought would be a boring day turned out to be a short breather followed by a good-bye visit by Gech followed by an earlier shuttle (worry about traffic delays) followed by some repacking at the check-in counter (*$# spice) followed by a few hours at the airport followed by a little angst at the gate (*%$#@ spice) followed by hours and hours of flying which resulted in us landing on time Sunday 11pm but our luggage not arriving until Thursday at noon!!
And we are still speaking….a few snarls along the way….but nothing a glass of wine and a nap couldn’t cure.
Judy:
And, we were so happy to see our luggage in Chicago….who knew that it takes so long to have luggage moved from Chicago to Halifax!!!!! Come on United Airways…..
And, of course the Customs officers inspected all our luggage….breaking those bags of spice and rummaging through our panties….everything was about those panties!
Square and Circle
Due to popular demand and now a feeling of guilt…we apologize for leaving you hanging and resume our blogging activities.
Our last week…..and still speaking! Hard to believe (to both), the time has flown by. Both work life and tourist life are now at a frantic pace. So much to do in a short period of time!!
At work… after 3 weeks of almost solitude…I can barely handle the attention. It does make the day go quickly though.
Life at the Hilton consists of a schedule… Gym, food, football. There are only so many days to finish shopping, try restaurants that we wanted to try or return to favorite haunts, and catch the evening’s matches in the African Cup of football.
We have become addicted to football. The lobby bar has turned into a sports bar of sorts. Big screen TV…lots of people sitting around watching the games…lots of cheering…so very festive. That’s usually where we end up for part or all of the game. Peanuts, wine/beer and maybe a snack. We usually get the same table…the servers know us (well we were there for a month!!) …..very comfortable indeed.
Tuesdays schedule was shopping. Back to the shops at Churchill for some bartering and rioting…dinner at Finfine (traditional). Did I mention the rioting??
Judy:
Okay, I know that was a dig at me! I told you about the learned hopelessness that I believed when the kids would ask for money. One day, I decided to give some of the kids things that they could sell (pencils, sharpeners and bracelets) when they ask me for money. So, I gave them things that they could sell…so they wouldn’t beg for money. My vision of making them entrepreneurs….it worked….kinda. Until I had a riot with the kids that gave product! Everyone wanted product! AND, fought about it with each other. I tried!
Anne:
She was “trying” all right. I am so done with shopping….need beer not bartering and tripping over yelling kids.
Anne:
Wednesday night we went to a new restaurant Sangam (Indian). We arrived at 6pm only to find out that it didn’t open until 6:30pm. So back in the cab and off we went to check out a guesthouse further down the road. I almost stayed here but CDC decided on the Hilton. Now after a brief look around the rooms, chat about the amenities, and a scan of the neighborhood …we can give our thumbs up or down to the bosses.
It’s 6:30 so back to the restaurant. Lights were off…2 people staring at us…..finally showing us to a table. Then we were ignored for another 10 minutes or so. Other diners came in and received the same welcome. We finally got menus and asked about a drink and were told “it’s locked”. No other explanation….
The other diners left and said they’d be back at 7pm. This restaurant is opened for lunch so there shouldn’t be this much confusion? We stood our ground.
After staring down the servers, cashier, host?...our order was taken. It was painful painful….little to no English versus little to no Amharic!
I can’t imagine that this is one of the higher rated eateries. Every table had a similar experience and even fight with this server.
But…the chef prevailed…and is was verrrry yummy indeed.
Thursday was my last day at work. I decided to take Friday off and have a day by the pool!! So to celebrate we went to the gym, the bar for football, then room service for the second half…and I even ordered fries and cake. Judy was still downstairs so I could sneak this in!!!
I know it sounds like a boring way to celebrate my last day of work…but I just wasn’t up for another “episode”. The city has become really busy because of an African Union Summit…so more traffic and roads closed for passing dignitaries. It was nice to spend some time with “friends”.
Ahhhhhhhhhh………Friday. First time by the pool…how sad is that!!! Baked and broiled until early afternoon then it was off to the gym then dinner. We tried to get reservations at Castillo’s (top Italian joint) but to no avail. African presidents and prime ministers are in town so no room for mangy tourists. So we went to DonVito’s…
Traffic is a nightmare….
Judy:
Gech came over on Friday evening and came to dinner with us. I had tried to see Afamily this week, but I couldn’t reach her…maybe she was off of her guardian angel post!
And, I didn’t see Adane and Brook either ;(
Oh well….next time!
Saturday was packing day….we had to pack our stuff AND unpack and repack a large suitcase that was too heavy, from the family of our friends in Halifax!
Anne:
I knew we bought stuff but when it is shoved in the closet for weeks on end you kind of forget. You should have seen the room Saturday morning! Disaster zone!! We couldn’t get a late checkout because of the African Summit so had to be out by noon…housekeeping keeps banging on the door….wow, talk about pressure packing. And what the hell are we going to do with kilos and kilos of spice and unknown white powder which I’m hoping is flour!
When Tigest brought the suitcase on Thursday I could barely lift it off the floor…I know they weigh the bags at Bole airport so it’s time to be creative!!
Well…she did it. Jude was an amazing packer and we were out of the room by 11:30!
Our shuttle doesn’t leave until 7pm and our flight is at 11pm, so we hunkered down for some coffee and TV at our table in the bar.
And since there was still an ounce of space left in one suitcase, we called Tesfu and went shopping. We had to buy green coffee beans and Tej for family dinner and Missy wanted stamps. It should have been a quick spree but those *#% dignitaries shut down the city for almost an hour, so we sat in the car and waited and waited until finally the road was open. Even as it was Tesfu couldn’t use the road in front of the Hilton so we had to jump out and make our way through the back gates. Actually it made us glad that we were leaving that night! Wayyyy too frustrating.
Tesfu is such a sweetie…he bought us going away presents and gave us some traditional music. Ahhhhhh….he likes us! Or he feels guilty for having to count our panties??
What we thought would be a boring day turned out to be a short breather followed by a good-bye visit by Gech followed by an earlier shuttle (worry about traffic delays) followed by some repacking at the check-in counter (*$# spice) followed by a few hours at the airport followed by a little angst at the gate (*%$#@ spice) followed by hours and hours of flying which resulted in us landing on time Sunday 11pm but our luggage not arriving until Thursday at noon!!
And we are still speaking….a few snarls along the way….but nothing a glass of wine and a nap couldn’t cure.
Judy:
And, we were so happy to see our luggage in Chicago….who knew that it takes so long to have luggage moved from Chicago to Halifax!!!!! Come on United Airways…..
And, of course the Customs officers inspected all our luggage….breaking those bags of spice and rummaging through our panties….everything was about those panties!
Square and Circle
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
