I lived in Addis Ababa as a teenager and this past September i had the opportunity to return. Although it was a long time ago, i still have vivid memories of the country and the people.
A bit of history first though!
Ethiopia is called "the cradle of humankind". It is Africa's oldest independent country and one of the oldest in the world. It is approximately twice the size of Texas and landlocked by Eritrea to the north, Djibouti and Somalia to the east, Kenya to the south and Sudan to the west. The country is mostly mountainous, dominated by Africa's highest range, the Simiens and bisected by the Rift Valley.
The population is 105 million with many different ethnic groups, each with their own distinct language, customs and dress. Many of the country's population are Christians living in the highlands, which is where the country's capital, Addis Ababa, is located. Addis Ababa is at an elevation of about 8,000 feet and has temperate weather throughout the year. When i lived in Ethiopia, the advertising slogan was "13 Months of Sunshine:, because, although there is a rainy season - the sun does shine every day!
The gallery below shows a bit of the "street scene" in Addis, beginning with a view from Mt. Entoto looking down on the city. Compared to years ago the city has more pollution, a lot more people and tons more traffic. So, not the city of my youth as so much had changed but it was still a thrill to be there again!
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