A modest proposal

The rainy season in much of Ethiopia starts in July and lasts through
September, getting between 16 to 40 inches of rain in those months
alone. Given that Addis Ababa effectively has no sewer system to handle
the rates of precipitation, that means the streets turn into rivers. The
minibus taxis become essential to traverse even a small stretch of road,
and even the little blue Lada taxi cabs cart people around as their
floor mats float adrift. Given Ethiopia's connection with Italian
culture, one wonders if the city planners shouldn't take advantage of
the situation and organize some inflatable gondolas to carry lovebirds
throughout the city on their summer honeymoons. Addis Ababa could be the
Venice of East Africa.