The transport system in Ethiopia is much like the one in Kenya. To
get around, you either get on the minivans (taxi here), the buses or
the smaller hired taxis. I noticed a trend on the first trip, the
smaller the vehicle, the higher the fare. A bus ride from Saris
(where we live) to Bole (the airport) for example, should cost about
2 Birr, give or take some cents. That is a fixed price. On a bigger
bus, you may pay 1 Birr, but there is no guarantee that it will be a
comfortable ride (I suppose the expression here is the more the
merrier). In a taxi, you may have to pay 25 Birr or more for that
trip, true to taxi standards.
It isn't the worst way to travel. Like in all buses around the world,
your neighbour may have forgotten to shower or put on deodorant, but
if you're sitting next to a window (that opens) bonus points for you!
You could of course consider the fact that you are packed in with a
bunch of strangers like sardines, but at least you won't be cold on
those chilly Ethiopian mornings.
As long as you know where you're headed though, I'm sure a friend;y
Ethiopian local (who understands you) can direct you. It would be
helpful though to learn the Amharic terms for a few things. While it
is not necessarily the National language, it will certainly help you
get around.
Happy travels!
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