Ethiopia in my mind was synonymous for a number of things but tourist destination it definitely was not. All that changed when I made a trip to the country and discovered the culture and history that was attached to this country.
Our arrival into Addis Ababa was on a rainy afternoon and on stepping out of the airport, we were greeted with the sight of mountains in the distance with a light rainfall. This was truly a breathtaking view of the city. Addis Ababa is the third highest capital city in the world which explains the wonderful climate for most of the year. Along with the altitude, it is also set in the valleys of a number of dormant volcanic hills which gives the city a beautiful landscape. Driving into the city, we got a glimpse of the real country. The interesting part about Ethiopia is that 15 % of the population lives in the cities while a majority of the population lives in the countryside which in contrast to the statistics apparent in almost all other countries.
The city of Addis Ababa has definitely cultural connections. As you drive along, you see a number of churches that were built many thousands of years ago and still maintain their pride in the hearts of the people. You also see a number of monuments that were built to commemorate the victory of the Ethiopian people in the various wars that have been fought for the country.
There are a number of museums in the capital that are worth visiting but the main one that everyone visiting the country must go to is the National Museum of Ethiopia. This is the museum which will give its visitors a comprehensive understanding of ancient civilizations in the country, the life of the ethiopian people as well their cultural artifacts. The main attraction at the musuem was 'Lucy' of 'Dinknesh' as she is fondly called in the country. She is the oldest fossil (3.2 millions years) found in Ethiopia. She is the most complete fossil that has been discovered. In addition to Lucy, Ethiopia has also been the location for the discovery of a number of fossils that have provided archaeologists with a timeline of human evolution. These discoveries have been at different parts of the country and at different times indicating that Ethiopia has been the seat of civilization for a very very long time.
Addis Ababa is not the only tourist destination in the country. In addition to the capital, Ethiopia has two other important attractions: one being the rock hewn churches at Lalibela and the other being the location of the origin of the Blue Nile that then goes on to become the Nile in Egypt. The churches at Lalibela were hewn into the rocks in the 12th and 13th century and have been declared world heritage sites. Not only have the exterior of the churches been maintained but one can also visit the interiors of the churches as well. This is truly a breathtaking experience as is evident from the pictures of some of the churches posted below.
To sum up our experience of traveling to Ethiopia, all I can say is that in addition to the sights to see within the country, the other thing that will always stay with me is the hospitality of the Ethiopian people. So for all those who thought or are still thinking that Ethiopia is not a place to visit, I would highly recommend a change in attitude. Sometimes the most unexpected things come at the unexpected places :) Happy travels to all!
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