Recommending Ethiopia

The Only Risk is Wanting to Stay

Ethiopia was amazing. However, writing about it seemed like a daunting task. If you haven't noticed the pattern yet, the fact that I'm publishing a new blog post means another trip is quickly approaching. If that wasn't the case, I would not have been able to get this out yet.  

I had a 3-day weekend and a friend posted a trip she was taking on Facebook. And the next thing I knew, I was joining her. We met up with a small tour group that hired a local guide and planned everything for us. Our group included 11 tourists and a leader. We were all expats (people who chose to leave their country to work in another) who picked the Middle East to reside and desired to take a vacation in Ethiopia. You might want to reread that sentence. A group that includes those characteristics isn't huge. Though it should be, of course. Though I know the dynamics of every trip is probably different, our mutual commonalities created a comradely and comfortable feel. 

Natural Beauty.

We took a day trip to see the countryside, and a little hiking to see this pretty scenery.

Injera.
They use teft, a gluten free grain, is used to make this large injera bread. You eat with your hands. You use the bread to pick up beans, veggies and meat. 

Welcoming people. 

We literally just walked into a small village and started talking with people. We ended up sharing smiles and songs. 

We also got to see traditional dancing and Africa's largest open market.

Learning by Experience

So many interesting things. I love visiting places, even really heartbreaking places (amidst cultural and aesthetic beauty) because I learn so much. And learning a little makes me more curious to learn even more. 

A few of the things I found the most intriguing are as follows: 

The House of Solomon and The Arc of the Covenant.

Did you know that Solomon and the Queen of Sheba had a son, and he brought the arc of the covenant to Ethiopia. At first I dismissed the notion, but really Solomon did have a lot of wives and concubines. Someone from the house of Solomon is believed to have been on Ethiopia's throne, until 1974. 

From what I understand, no other country claims to have the Arc of the Covenant. I don't hold that it has any special power, like some do. (When God's ultimate plan, his biggest sacrifice, was paid, the curtain to the Holy of Holies was ripped open and God's holy presence became available to those who desire it. So, I guess I'm sort of an arc of a covenant now.) Regardless, it is intriguing and I'd like to see it. Oddly enough the Ethiopian Orthodox Church has some very pre-Messiah elements. The church doesn't eat pork and each church building has a replica of the Holy of Holies where only special people can enter.

Eucalyptus Trees.

Many years ago, with good intentions to replenish trees, after most had been used for fuel, the non-native, quick growing Eucalyptus tree was transplanted to Ethiopia, from Australia. Unfortunately the tree also drinks a lot of water and spreads rapidly. The loss of moisture was an unwanted consequence so they have since begun working on removing them and replacing them with native trees. We still saw many.

Red Terror.

My visit to the Red Terror museum was very reminiscent of the Killing Fields in Cambodia. A movement fueled by the communist ideology of raising up the underdog- gone horribly wrong. It was horrific to hear about the thousands of deaths and inconceivable torture that occurred at the hands of many of their own countrymen between 1976 and 1978. The terror came about after the last emperor of Ethiopia was removed from power. With no one to take over... This is a repeating pattern in history.

Chinese Investment. 

Chinese investment is overtly apparent in Ethiopia. There were many large construction sites covered with Chinese characters. Though the immediate investment benefits Ethiopia, I sensed some skepticism about it as well.

Lucy. 

If you visit Addis you will no doubt hear about Lucy. She is not the oldest human thought to be uncovered, but the oldest that is so complete, having 40% of her bones are in one location. The thing I found really interesting is that she is named Lucy because archeologists were listening to Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds, by the Beatles, when they found her. 

No Food Franchises and Coffee Ceremonies.

There are no chains in the whole country. No Pizza Hut, Subway, McDonald's and definitely no Starbucks. But they do have coffee...

Coffee is such a tradition here that they call the whole presentation a 'coffee ceremony'. From the ritual, I gleaned coffee is brewed over coals, they burn nice smelling incense, spread out grass on the ground and serve strong coffee with sugar in small handless cups, poured from traditional coffee pots.

Cutting for Stone. 

It's been recommended, and it has been on and off my reading list over the last few years, but when it was pointed out to me that the setting of the book was the eastern African country I was about to visit, I committed and downloaded it. Since it's not my typical children's or young adult choice, it isn't a quick read. In fact, I only made it to 10% before our trip. Now a couple weeks after, I'm returning to it. It's so much the richer now because I have been to the Addis the author is describing in detail. I'm making good reader connections right and left. 

Though I'm still not far enough to recommend the book, I do recommend visiting Ethiopia if you get a chance. And there is more, for me to return to see, as well.