Lac Abbé

Djibouti

Horn of Africa

May 4, 2011

Djibouti has the modern colonial syndrome.  The French rulers departed thirty-four years ago, but here, like other places in the world, even after a generation or two, people are still pissed off.  Unlike Ethiopia, sometimes invaded, but never colonized, where everyone smiles a sparkling smile, folks in Djibouti City sneer, more or less, with a rotted out set of khat -gnawed teeth.  So what in heaven’s name am I doing here?

 I am here for the lakes.

Ah, what lakes!

Djibouti City

Republic of Djibouti

May 5, 2011

Bonjour mes amis,

At the Djibouti Embassy in Addis Ababa, the consular officer was quite clear: You don’t need a visa to enter Djibouti.   You can get a visa on arrival.

Non!

The entry process was a real pain.  At the airport, I waited for what seemed like more than an hour as I was shuttled from office to office.  Finally, finally, one officer made a call and some other higher ranking officer gave the OK.  Then back to yet another office to watch yet another officer paste the visa into my passport.  (Miracle of miracles, my luggage was still waiting for me, forlornly, on the carousel.)