Ethiopia's Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa
A century ago, one might have described Ethiopia’s capital as noisy, dusty, sprawling and the like. Today, Ethiopia’s Addis Ababa is anything but. Rather, the thriving Addis Ababa stands as one of the continent’s largest business centers, and the fourth largest city in Africa. It is an intriguing blend of past and present; where old imperial statues stand beside poignant reminders of the former Marxist regime; where wattle and daub huts cower beneath towering high rise hotels; and where traditional tej beats serve golden honey wine while the cheery hands of club goers downtown carry fluorescent martinis.
The people of Addis Ababa also prove a fascination of juxtapositions. Priests in medieval robes walk the wide boulevards beside prestigious African businessmen, Ethiopian women in traditional garb gossip on modern cell phones, and Western aid workers make way for the occasional goat as they go about their day. Unlike any other African capital, it is Addis Ababa’s rare blend of complementing contrasts that makes this capital one of the most alluring cities on the continent. Visit the expansive collection of museums, enjoy the tantalizing variety of cosmopolitan flavors, or simply admire the delightful variety for which Addis Ababa is known.
