"Addis Ababa" Addis Ababa by PeteG

Addis Ababa Travel Guide: 378 reviews and 1,112 photos

Life in Addis

I found Addis is a strange but very interesting place. It has loads of contrasts and even in the short time I was there saw the full range of the social spectrum within minutes and minutes from each other. We saw the celebration in a smart hotels grounds of a wonderfully elaborate wedding which must have costs thousands, and the other side of the road a man who looked like he had a matter of hours left to live, naked in the road.

Some of the roads around the city are not a lot more than dust tracks, but a couple of miles later in the middle of Addis the main road seems to be 6 lanes in each direction with taxis seemingly trying to drive in all of them at the same time. It is brilliant fun in a taxi, but not for the feinthearted.

Poverty is the obvious issue for the vast proportion of Ethiopians in Addis. The amount of beggars on the streets and laying in the road was quite alarming - but what is more alarming is the speed in which you (I) start to get immune from their plight. It is a hard place to get by in when you have nothing. I saw a hotel doorman beat a very young girl (less than 10 years old) with a baton because she approached a guest entering the hotel we stayed at. I don't think this is unusual.

Getting about

I would recommend hiring a taxi for a day/afternoon. You can arrange this through your hotel and although I can't remember how much I paid, I know it was incredibly cheap for an entire afternoon.

St Georges Cathedral is really worth a visit. Emperor Haile Selassie had his coronation there in 1930 and it is a world pilgrimage place for Rastafarians. It is octagonal in shape and full of paintings inside. The priest in charge gave us a tour which included the playing of the various musical instruments used in worship, and even singing and dancing. I found it a very peaceful and relaxing place in the middle of a very busy city.

A word of warning though! Becareful when walking in the cathedral grounds not to tread on the tortoises there which cunningly seem to look like rocks!

There is also a great museum in the grounds. From the outside it looks quite small and not promising. However, it is full of fantastic artifacts from Ethiopian history and the cathedrals background. This includes many robes including those worn by Emporer Haile Selassie. Very much worth taking an hour out to visit the museum.

Pros and Cons

Pros:An experience I'll never forget
Cons:The harsh realities of poverty can shock

Last visit to Addis Ababa: May 2005
Intro Updated Oct 9, 2007
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St Georges Cathedral Things to Do (1)

St Georges Cathedral is really worth a visit. Emperor Haile Selassie had his coronation there in 1930 and it is a world... more travel advice

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Comments (3)

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mad4travel May 13, 2008 at 12:15 PM

Hello, still dressed up as a schoolgirl I see. I'm surprised you've not been arrested yet!!
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DAO May 13, 2008 at 11:52 AM

Good information!
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sourbugger Oct 10, 2007 at 8:23 AM

etheopia - now that is impressive !