"I was a bit more fortunate when painting this gate-house as there were only a few monks about and I wasn’t bothered at all.
 
In general the few days I spent in Gondar were at least interesting ones, if not altogether enjoyable. The hotel, which at first sight seemed the best so far, turned out to have no running water, it cost me £3 a night. Though I was able to get a meal at the government hotel in the centre, it was not to the same standard as in Bahir Dar. On the plus side, the bank in town turned out to be the only one outside Addis where I managed to change some travel cheques. It was just as well I found a lively black market in US dollars in most towns, or I would have run out of money long before my trip ended. Also at this bank, I met my first other travellers, a young English couple who had made the journey through from the Sudan, and looked really worn out." - MH