Addis
Ababa & Eastern Ethiopia
I was unexpectedly invited into a wedding reception at the Itegue Taitu
Hotel, the oldest hotel and restaurant in Ethiopia. The stilting
dance steps of Ethiopian dancing, a cross between smooth African
dancing and minimalist Arabian step dancing, is always good for a
laugh. The capital Addis Ababa is home to a sophisticated urbane
class who routinely has pizza or pasta for lunch instead of their
trademark injera and enjoy an aromatic espresso and pastry as much as
their European brethren. The Korean restaurant I tried in Addis
probably had the best Asian food I tasted in all of Africa. The
more cosmopolitan crowd in Addis is much more tolerant and accepting of
foreigners as well, so travellers often end up staying in Addis longer
than anticipated. Though there isn't all that much to see in
Addis, it's a comfortable, enjoyable and inexpensive city to hang out
in.
Cinema posters on a wall in downtown Addis Ababa.
A corner barber shop.
The eastern city of Harar is popular with travellers for very good
reasons. Its muslim residents are friendly and hospitable to
visitors. Its lowland setting is considerably warmer than Addis
Ababa and the mountainous north of Ethiopia. The maze like alleys
and fleets of old Peugeot 404 taxis are atmospheric and
photogenic. Some visitors dig the wild jackal feedings that take
place outside the old city walls right after sunset. I preferred
my visit to the Harar Brewery, one of the major beer producers in the
nation. I was lucky enough to hitch onto a private brewery tour
with the CEO, a famous Ethiopian singer and her Ethiopian-American
daughters. Harar Beer sales dip significantly during the Ramadan
fasting month, indicating that Ethiopian muslims happily quaff their
beer during the rest of the year! So the muslims in Ethiopia are
a little bit odd too like their Christian and Animist compatriots.
TO SOUTHERN
ETHIOPIA
TO NORTHERN
ETHIOPIA