usvi-on-line
Has anyone here been to Addis Ababa Ethiopia
Has anyone here been to Addis Ababa Ethiopia
I just wondered if any of this extremely helpful and well travelled group had been to Addis Ababa Ethiopia. (How's that for off topic?) My son and his wife are adopting a baby from there, and have asked my husband to go along with them to pick her up. (Actually, they asked both of us to go, but due to my health situation, only my husband will make the trip). The more we research the area, the scarier it seems. They plan to stay at the Hilton, (Machine gun armed guards and metal detectors at the doors because they were bombed a few years ago.) Many, many pre travel immunizations have been done. Supposedly Ethiopia is a new democracy and a safe place to go.(but you are not suppose to go out without an escort?). Has anyone been there? Experiences? (Toto, we're not in kansas anymore) 
I've never been to East Africa, but worked and travelled in West Africa years ago. I loved Africa, but it can be overwhelming and very intense. If it was me, I'd start my research on the TA forum:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowForum-g2 ... iopia.html
I read a few posts there out of curiosity and it looks like it's not a very active forum but that some good info is available if you work at it.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowForum-g2 ... iopia.html
I read a few posts there out of curiosity and it looks like it's not a very active forum but that some good info is available if you work at it.
Last edited by Lex on Fri Jun 27, 2008 5:54 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Congratulations on your new addition! 
I'm sure you have already seen this, but here's a link to DOS's advice for US citizens traveling to Ethiopia.
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_t ... _1113.html
I'm sure you have already seen this, but here's a link to DOS's advice for US citizens traveling to Ethiopia.
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_t ... _1113.html
When the end of the world comes, I want to be in Kentucky, because everything there happens 20 years after it happens anywhere else. – Mark Twain
thank you so much to all who replied. I've checked out all the links and passed them on to hubby. Excited about the whole adoption and granddaughter, but the trip still sounds a bit scary. And actually the more you read, the more threatening it seems. (Definately not a trip to STJ). We still are reading though, because knowledge is good. Thanks again, Deb
Here's a note from Chris O'Brien. He lived in Ethiopia for a couple of years and he recommended some highlights. He's the author of "Fermenting Revolution: How to Drink Beer and Save the World" and his web site is www.BeerActivist.com.
"Try dinner at Fasika restaurant just off Bole Road. It's basically for tourists but the food is great and the entertainment is awesome and they have several types of t'ej including onion, garlic, lemon and other types. The other must do is to visit the Meta Depot. Meta is a brewery outside Addis. The brewery itself is well worth a trip for a nice nature walk and horse ride and fresh unfiltered beer but if they can't make it to the out of town location the other great option is the 'depot' in downtown Addis, near the Alliance Francaise, where you can get platters of roasted meat and glasses of their unfiltered beer. These are the only two ways to get the unfiltered version of their beer and its great.
There is so much more to do in Ethiopia its hard to know where to start. If they have time to get out of the city, I'd highly recommend a trip to Lalibela to visit the ancient rock hewn churches and to drink the best t'ej I tasted anywhere in the country. If they go there, they can ask for a tour guide named '44'. I doubt he'll remember me but I met him a couple times and he is a great guide who can bring them to local 'tela bet' (beer houses) and 't'ej bet' (mead houses).
Ethiopia is wonderful. I hope they have fun."
Good luck!
Cheers, RickG
"Try dinner at Fasika restaurant just off Bole Road. It's basically for tourists but the food is great and the entertainment is awesome and they have several types of t'ej including onion, garlic, lemon and other types. The other must do is to visit the Meta Depot. Meta is a brewery outside Addis. The brewery itself is well worth a trip for a nice nature walk and horse ride and fresh unfiltered beer but if they can't make it to the out of town location the other great option is the 'depot' in downtown Addis, near the Alliance Francaise, where you can get platters of roasted meat and glasses of their unfiltered beer. These are the only two ways to get the unfiltered version of their beer and its great.
There is so much more to do in Ethiopia its hard to know where to start. If they have time to get out of the city, I'd highly recommend a trip to Lalibela to visit the ancient rock hewn churches and to drink the best t'ej I tasted anywhere in the country. If they go there, they can ask for a tour guide named '44'. I doubt he'll remember me but I met him a couple times and he is a great guide who can bring them to local 'tela bet' (beer houses) and 't'ej bet' (mead houses).
Ethiopia is wonderful. I hope they have fun."
Good luck!
Cheers, RickG
S/V Echoes - Coral Bay - St. John, VI
Thanks Rick, I'm passing it on to my travellers. They're still feeling a bit threatened by the whole location. Last night hubby said he may have to restrict his touring to the inside of the brick, machine gun guarded grounds of the hilton, and the orphanage. We'll see. He's pretty adventurous, but not when it comes to real uncontrolled risk.
Understood. My risk profile is a bit different. I used to travel the world for work and I would go looking for interesting experiences. The first think I would do is to head for the big open air market with enough cash to get me through the day. The State Department seems to thing that the worst thing that would happen is that you would get pickpocketed. That kind of thing happens in Washington, DC on July 4 all the time!
Cheers, RickG
Cheers, RickG
S/V Echoes - Coral Bay - St. John, VI
How true. He has travelled a lot for business also. China and Japan and never felt in danger. This has him a little more spooked however. Would like to check out the mercato, and the sights around Addis. Probably not alot of time for sightseeing with getting the baby, and her paperwork ready to come home. Plans to check in with the
US Embassy first thing. He also plans to take gps. He works for a lg GPS company and is checking out the various ones to see which has the best Addis data base. There will also be a fair amount of time spent being new Grandpa. And helping our kids with their 1st baby. They neither one have alot of baby experience.
US Embassy first thing. He also plans to take gps. He works for a lg GPS company and is checking out the various ones to see which has the best Addis data base. There will also be a fair amount of time spent being new Grandpa. And helping our kids with their 1st baby. They neither one have alot of baby experience.