Travel in Ethiopia (Addis Ababa)

I stayed in Addis Ababa for about a week; for hotels, if you have a high budget, you can stay at Hilton or Sheraton, if you have a medium budget, you can stay at Tondao, and if you have a lower budget, you can stay at Mount Tai; there are indeed even cheaper options, but since I was traveling alone, I chose not to opt for the cheapest to ensure my safety. Personally, I’m not much of a fan of the “special forces-style” travel, so I haven’t been to that many places, and I’m also a bit afraid that someone might snatch my phone, which is why I didn’t take many photos in some places [covering face R]. I visited Addis Ababa University, and the environment there is quite pleasant; there are plenty of greenery, and on the day I was there, it was overcast with light rain, which made for a very comfortable stroll around the campus. There is a museum at the university, and tickets can only be purchased with a card; I don’t remember the price, but it wasn’t very high; at that time, I didn’t bring my card, so I asked the staff nearby to help me buy it [covering face R]. The St. Trinity Cathedral is arguably the most famous church in Addis Ababa; it is quite beautiful, and the ticket price plus an English-speaking tour guide costs 1,500 birr; while the tour guide fee might seem a bit steep, you will be able to enter and even touch the king’s coffin—although I’m not entirely sure why one would want to do that [covering face R]; be sure to check the opening hours before you go, as visitors are no longer allowed inside an hour before closing [covering face R]. There is also a museum in the courtyard of the church where a staff member can give you a tour, but photography is not allowed. This is the largest market in Ethiopia, where you can find almost anything, but it is quite chaotic, so it is best to be accompanied by a local guide; I hired a guide for 2,000 birr per hour, who helped me purchase some souvenirs, and it is important to haggle for a better price; however, I would recommend going to the souvenir center instead for a safer shopping experience; in fact, the prices are almost the same at both places. It’s the largest library in the city, and it’s free to enter; there’s a security check at the entrance, and reading materials are also free; the library is quite spacious, and there are a variety of books available, including English, Korean, and Amharic, but I didn’t find any Chinese books; there might be some, though. I went to the museum where Lucy was, but it was under maintenance and closed, which was a bit of a pity [sigh R] I didn’t really explore the rest of the place either; I just drove past a few parks and somehow managed to forget to check in and take photos, even though I usually enjoy visiting parks [laugh crying R] #EthiopianTourism #MyTravelMemories #Ethiopia #AfricanLife