In transit in Addis Ababa

Having almost a full day in Addis Ababa while in transit on the way to Kenya was enough to have a look in the city and check some of its sightseeing spots.

The best thing was that Ethiopian Airlines sent me to a hotel where I could have some food, a shower and a nap before getting into town. Great service!

I basically negotiated the price for a city tournwith a taxi driver/city guide organized by the hotel. He drove me around and took me to the Trinity Church, Ethiopian National Museum and Ethnological Museum.

Religion plays a very important role on the Ethiophians life's. Daniel, my guide, said that in Addis Ababa there must be at least one church at every 3 km.

I learned today that the majority of the Ethiopian population are Orthodoxes, Muslims and Catholics, and the impression I got was that they manage to live peacefully in this religious diversity.

The ancient Ethiopian Emperors have been strongly connected to the church as well. The "Lion of Judah," a symbol of this relationship between power and religion, can be seen everywhere as an ornament, in the palaces, churches, museums and in the ancient Ethiopian flags.

The Ethiopian ethnical diversity reminded me of what I've learned about the tribes in Kenya: many groups, different traditions, languages and beliefs. Many aspects of the different cultures can be seen in both, the Ethiopian National Museum and the Ethnological Museum.

Hint: I strongly recommend to hire an guide in all the museums. They are many, well informed, enthusiastic and really doing a good work. Important: they work for tips.

Daniel even explained me the story behind the name of the capital, Addis Ababa: while walking on the palaces garden the Empress Taytu Betul, wife of the Emperor Menelik II, found a flower she's never seen before, and baptized the city as Addis Ababa, meaning "new flower."

I was pretty surprised as a got to know the the Ethiopian have been under Italian occupation during two short periods and managed to get rid of them both times.

The greatest historical hero for the Ethiopian population has been the Emperor Haile Selassie, which brought the country through a significantly cultural revolution and reigned for more than 40 years. He died in 1974.

Even though the time was pretty short I'm glad I managed to see something of the city, talk to some locals and learn a bit about the Ethiopian people.

I may come back to Ethiopia later to see the stone churches of Lalibela up north. Yep! 

Cheers everyone!

Addis Ababa International Airport

Despite all the tiredness and the urgent need of a shower I landed safe and sound in Addis Ababa with some buffer to take the connection flight to Nairobi.

Addis Ababa international airport.

One and a half day have passed since I left Munich and still some distance to overcome.

Local kind of dress.

A bit sad for not being able to visit Addis Ababa city due to the delayed flight but excited for being on African ground once again.

Keep on going...
Cheers!
Yay!

The writing.

Tea is very traditional in in Ethiopia.

Carvings are very traditional in Africa generally.

Too bad weather ... Flight canceled!

Oh yes! That happened!

After boarding, falling asleep and waking up in the for a couple of times all passengers had to leave it again and head to a hotel at the surroundings of the airport.

Reason?! Apparently the was too bad for taking off. Well!! Besides some snow lying on the ground I could see anything that could have stop us to start.

The nice hotel room  where I spent the last night.

Positive side: I could have a shower and some sleep in a cool hotel room. Negative one: I probably lost my day out in Addis Ababa since we are supposed to depart at 10am in the next day and all Ill be able to get is some hours in the local international airport.

The nice hotel room  where I spent the last night.

I had experience this before flying from Brazil to Germany with TAP. By then I had to spend a night in Lisbon.

Lets wait, keep calm and see how things develops. Can't wait to get into the plane... and have some sleep!!

Cheers up the flight everyone!