Addis Ababa

Comfortably installed at the Hilton for recovery after the flights from Scotland, and for rest prior to starting on Mt Kilimanjaro on Saturday.

A good choice. Expensive but it has a pool and gym.

Judging by the reviews of some hotels in the city, hot water can be an "intermittent" luxury.

Used the gym already - 45 minutes running & 30 cycling. Felt fine - surprising after a long day traveling the day before. And then I'm 7,500 ft above sea level here, and it's 23?c. No aircon in the gym - it's winter here.

Saturday (7 Jan) was Christmas here. New Year will be in September. It's 2004, not 2012. Different calendar as well as continent.