BITTER BUBBLES


BITTER BUBBLES

Foam bubbles near a pedestrian sidewalk around Bole as water infiltrates beneath the asphalt layer with pockets of air causing the eerie phenomenon. While the capital was hit with untimely rainfall over the past few weeks, the bubbling is a result of cracks or gaps in the asphalt due to poor drainage around the paved surface or a combination of both. The absence of rigorous transparency when awarding public projects and poor technical skills have shaved off billions of birr in several projects across the country.


In-Picture

FADING FLAVORS

A historic building around Piazza area that housed restaurant Castelli within its walls is undergoing renovations. Its story dates back to the Italian occupation. Piazza, meaning "open square" in Italian, was imposed as the name by Mussolini's forces during their 1930s occupation of Addis Abeba, particularly the Arada District. Piazza has thrived as a centre of commerce and culture until the ongoing development project which has resulted in the demolition of some areas. Few buildings such as...


In-Picture

TOTTERING TOWERS

A hurried renovation transpires on a conjoined pair of small buildings around the Mercato area. Many old buildings in the vast marketplace are remnants of shops built by Yemeni merchants who relocated from the old Arada area in the 1930s. The area has a thriving informal sector economy from which thousands earn daily bread. According to studies by the Centre for International Private Enterprise, nearly one-sixth of Ethiopia's urban employment is in the informal sector. Some studies have esti...


In-Picture

SOULFUL SIDEWALKS

A row of seats and plastic water bottles await followers of the Islamic faith for preparatory 'Udu' proceedings around the Bethel area. The closely parked minibus taxis and shops right across also await customers on the cloudy Thursday afternoon. An aesthetic reformation ambitiously being pursued by the City administration will see fewer and fewer cars on the street as parking permits become part of the urban automobile experience. Ample walking and cycling space is p...


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