Addis Ababa , the capital of Ethiopia also known simply as “Addis”.
Here I started my short trip to Ethiopia visiting Lalibela, Harar and Addis Ababa.
I always pick a few places whenever visiting a country, especially when I only travel here for a week I had to make a choice.
What is there to see in Addis Ababa ?
Entoto Mountain
From here you have a nice panoramic view over Ethiopia’s capital Addis.
You can take a hike here in the woods, so many eucalyptus trees spreading a special smell over the area. Made me think about my time in Australia visiting the blue mountains. on your way to the top of Mount Entoto you will bump into locals trying to sell you some handmade souvenirs, but also people who are working and carrying piles of wooden branches attached with a cord on their backs and monkeys carrying the more heavy stacks of wood.
Entoto mountain with view over the city
small souvenir shop on Entoto mountain
local women at work
donkeys on the road carrying stacks of wood
The national Museum
I think everybody at some point had to learn about the first humans and where they came from, apparently Ethiopia is the place on earth where archeologist and scientist found out that it’s here that the first humans walked the earth. The oldest human skeleton being found from what was one of our ancestors. A crossing between ape and human named Lucy. In the National museum of Addis Ababa where the skeleton of Lucy lays, you can see many other skeletons that have been found in the ground from the Homo Erectus just to give one example. Also skulls of animals that are now extinct.
All of that is downstairs. The first floor has artwork, a throne, crowns, weapons of the former Ethiopian king Haile Sellasie and his wife Empress Zewditu Menelik.
The 2nd floor there are all kinds of African paintings representing the life in Ethiopia and Ethiopian history as well as religious paintings like Maria with child. The paintings look like the once you can see in Orthodox churches. The Christianity in Ethiopia is also mainly Orthodox.
The 3rd floor has traditional clothes on display and tools that are used for farming.
entrance of the national museum
map of Ethiopia at the museum
holding the Ethiopian flag
Here is “Lucy”
Lucy how she used to look
more skulls and parts of human skeletons
Crown of king Selassie
portret of King Selassie
portret of empress Zewditu Menelik
museum view from the 2nd floor
just one of the paintings on the 2nd floor
The Addis Mercato
The largest open air market in Africa. It goes on for kilometers and has different sections connected by the streets , a real labyrinth.
Vendors trying to sell anything, everything gets recycled, it’s like nothing goes to waste.
So many people, it’s chaotic, you could easily loose yourself. I just watched everything from the backseat of the car and snapped a few pictures. I don’t really like markets with mass crowds and in this heat outside as the sun was burning I was more than happy just to do some people watching and see what people are buying and what they are all carrying on their shoulders, back or heads. I saw one guy believe it or not, carrying a big American fridge on his back. How do you not break your spine? It’s nuts!
Not only people are carrying heavy stuff but also the many donkeys have stacked heavy items on their backs.
the Addis Ababa mercato
a guy carrying heavy bag on his back
little bit chaotic, rooftops full of stuff stacked on it
guy on top of some boxes of refridgerators that have been just loaded on to the truck
Churches
The Holy Trinity Cathedral
It’s the most important Cathedral.
This Orthodox Cathedral contains the tombs of king Halie Selassie and his wife. The beautiful glasswork and paintings can also be admired when entering inside. Just like in Buddhist temples and mosques, here in Ethiopia it’s common to take your shoes of when entering an Orthodox church. It’s not the habit in Russia for example. I never had to take my shoes of when visiting an Orthodox church or Cathedral in Moscow. For me it was not an issue as I visited so many religious buildings this year, from Buddhist temples in Myanmar and Laos to Mosques in Brunei that I’m used to take my shoes of now when entering a religious building.
The Holy Trinity Cathedral
inside the Cathedral
amazing glasswork
Medhane Alem Cathedral
It’s the biggest Cathedral and it’s another Orthodox Cathedral worth visiting.
Works where going on inside so there was no possibility to go in, so I only saw it from the outside. Massive colorful paintings on the outside walls caught my eye and the Jesus Christ statue on the other side of the street facing the Cathedral.
Medhane Alem Cathedral
Jesus Christ statue
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