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Ethiopia Travel Blogs

Background: Unique among African countries, the ancient Ethiopian monarchy maintained its freedom from colonial rule, with the exception of the 1936-41 Italian occupation during World War II. In 1974 a military junta, the Derg, deposed Emperor Haile SELASSIE (who had ruled since 1930) and established a socialist state. Torn by bloody coups, uprisings, wide-scale drought, and massive refugee problems, the regime was finally toppled in 1991 by a coalition of rebel forces, the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF). A constitution was adopted in 1994 and Ethiopia's first multiparty elections were held in 1995. A two and a half year border war with Eritrea ended with a peace treaty on 12 December 2000. Final demarcation of the boundary is currently on hold due to Ethiopian objections to an international commission's finding requiring it to surrender sensitive territory.

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By WhereIsSteve
November 3rd 2009

Ethiopia - It's All Going Tits Up Africa » Ethiopia » Amhara Region » Lalibela

Lalibela - Underwear, Churches and Cool Priests Security Alert Today is a bad day for the women. We have to leave the hotel by 5a.m. to get the early flight to Lalibela. Everyone - even me(!) - makes it on time. Our bus is on time and we get to the airport on time! It's all good. At the airport, though, we have to go through bag scans and body scans twice. The second scanner seems to be set a bit too sensitively, though, as all the women set the scanners off because of the metal in their bras. Eventually, [View Full Entry]

By WhereIsSteve
November 2nd 2009

Ethiopia - Still in Addis Ababa Africa » Ethiopia » Addis Ababa Region » Addis Ababa

Museums, Monuments, Cathedrals and the Pink School Museums All the group is here now - the last 3 people arrived during the night. We are supposed to meet at 9a.m. for a tour of Addis Ababa but there is no bus yet. We wait in the hotel reception while Baty organises a bus. The film "Zulu" is showing on the TV in reception - seems an odd choice for Ethiopian TV to show! Eventually a bus arrives and we get taken on our tour of Addis Ababa. As a "Baty Bonus" we taken to the National Museum. Quite a few [View Full Entry]

By WhereIsSteve
November 1st 2009

Ethiopia - Cannon We Get There? Africa » Ethiopia » Addis Ababa Region » Addis Ababa

Sevastapol At breakfast on Sunday we are joined by 2 more members of the tour group who have just arrived from the airport. Matt has not slept in over 24 hours but still decides to join us for a stroll around Addis Ababa. Jane votes for sleep. Nick and I have both read Philip Marsden's book, "The Barefoot Emperor" about Emperor Tewderos. We are both very keen to find the replica of Sevastapol - this is the cannon he built and then had transported (by building all the necessary roads) to his mountain fortress at Maqdala. We think that the [View Full Entry]

By WhereIsSteve
October 31st 2009

Ethiopia - In Addis Ababa Africa » Ethiopia » Addis Ababa Region » Addis Ababa

Hotel Awraris On first appearance the hotel seems a bit shabby but it's just about what I expected. The hotels I'll be staying in are described as "mid-range" but that is mid-range by Ethiopian standards. The room seems to be clean and the staff here are really friendly. I have one of those showers where you can never be sure if you're going to get wet or get electrocuted when you stand under it. But I have hot water and I have electricity at the moment - it's all good!! The hotel staff assure me that the the couple of [View Full Entry]

By WhereIsSteve
October 30th 2009

From Mansfield Woodhouse to Addis Ababa Africa » Ethiopia » Addis Ababa Region » Addis Ababa

Flying to Addis Ababa The first day,getting from home to Addis Ababa, was always going to be a long one. But it's even longer than it needs to be because of the choices I have taken. The cheapest flight my travel agent could find was with Emirates so I have flown further East than I needed to in order to spend some time waiting in Dubai before coming back West to Addis Ababa. Secondly I've broken my journey a couple of times within the UK. I've stopped off in London for a couple of hours to have lunch with Martyn [View Full Entry]

By Rodyssey
October 24th 2009

Ethiopia Book - Vote Now!!! Africa » Ethiopia

Vote in Blurb competition

I've made a book on Blurb.com with photos and commentary of my trip to Ethiopia in April. Blurb are currently having a photobook competition so I've decided to enter the book in the Travel section. The short list is determined by public vote so I need people to log on and vote for this book before November 9th. Click here to vote for Undiscovered Ethiopia. If you're not already registered with blurb.com, you'll need to do so but this will only take a [View Full Entry]

By WhereIsSteve
October 23rd 2009

Ethiopia Africa » Ethiopia

Ethiopia I booked my trip to Ethiopia on the same day as I decided to quit work. It’s one of those places I’ve always wanted to visit. So as soon as my holidays aren’t constrained to school holidays I can go to Ethiopia at what I think will be the best time of year. It should be the end of their rainy season now so I was expecting it be hot and sunny but still very green. Most people of my age will remember the horrific TV pictures of the famine of 1984/85 which lead to Live Aid and that may [View Full Entry]

By Dereje
October 16th 2009

My Visit of Ethiopia Africa » Ethiopia

Blue Nile fall

Few nations, if any, can boast the historic splendour of Ethiopia, evidence of whose extraordinary past is everywhere, from its rock-hewn churches, still places of living worship, to its ancient historical traditions and magnificent cultures. Ethiopia, is a nation of surprises, full of diversity and contrast, from the ancient to the modern. Legend has it that Emperor Menelik I, the son of the Queen of Sheba and king Solomon, brought the Ark of the Covenant from Jerusalem to Axum, where he settled and established one of the world’s longest known, uninterrupted monarchical dynasties. [View Full Entry]

By Al and Sara
September 30th 2009

The Eternal Sunshine of their Spotless Minds Africa » Ethiopia » Benishangul-Gumuz Region » Asosa

ICT for ICT

So onto ICT (or In-Country Training). Where three current volunteers and two PO staff offer to welcome/herd/brief/assist/lecture and generally introduce 36 new Ferengi volunteers to the people's, customs, traditions, language and culture of Ethiopia. Surely an easy task? Er, not really :) So why exactly did I agree to do it? Well firstly I am a volunteer. I guess volunteering is my thing.. ..and also three guys did it for us - and did a great job - so it's kind of paying it back. Or is it paying it forward? All our ICT helpers have finished as volunteers now... Besides [View Full Entry]

By Paul D
September 29th 2009

Meskal Africa » Ethiopia » Addis Ababa Region » Addis Ababa

The Pilgrimage To Meskel Square

The past weekend was a religious holiday in Ethiopia. Meskel is the Ethiopian Orthodox celebration commemorating the discovery of the True Cross by Queen Eleni (Saint Helena) in the fourth century. The day is spent preparing for the evening service where people gather firewood for their bonfires, buy daisies for decorative purposes and typically dress in white clothing. It is generally a peaceful and spiritual occurrence however the night swiftly turns into an excuse for a piss up and raucous fire dance....pretty scary stuff! The main event occurred in Meskel square where thousands of Ethi [View Full Entry]

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