Addis Ababa is a city of contrasts β new skyscrapers stand on dirt roads and international business conferences meet next to traditional markets where rural customs are preserved. The city is growing rapidly and tourism in Ethiopia is on the rise, but many travellers still see the capital as a mere stopover on the way to more remote areas of the country.
Incense burns as a woman roasts beans, a jebena coffee pot nestled in the coals. Small cups of the dark brew are served with sugar and a sprig of rue herb; 5 birr 14p a cup. Pull up a short stool and sit for a while. Run by dancer Melaku Belay, Fendika is often filled with an eclectic mix of music industry folks, in-the-know locals and travellers. Check out the art gallery in the back and the small patio on the side, where plates of barbeque chicken and rice are often on offer.
The bone fossils of this human ancestor are over 3 million years old, now preserved in Addis at the National Museum of Ethiopia 11 The Lucy display is the star attraction of the small museum. Open 8. A staple of Ethiopian cuisine, injera is a mildly sour, spongy flatbread made from fermented teff flour and sometimes additional flours, such as barley.
Stewed main dishes are typically served atop injera and eaten by hand, using more injera to scoop up mouthfuls of food. Hotels in Addis can be quite inexpensive, though plumbing and internet amenities do tend to scale with price.
The 11 rooms at Biruk Bed and Breakfast are small but pleasant and provide a residential experience in Bole, an upscale neighborhood near the airport with a bustling business main street. Family-run, the small guest house is private and friendly. Jupiter Hotel in Kazanchis is known for reliable wifi and accommodating staff eager to help guests arrange their itineraries.
