Travel and Tour Ethiopia

ADDIS ABABA

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Addis Abeba is strategically located in the center of the country and was founded by Emperor Menelik II. Its precursor, Entoto, was unsuitable because of very cold temperatures and scant supply of firewood.

The Empress Taitu, wife of Emperor Menilek II (reigned 1889-1913), talked the emperor into constructing a house near hot springs. The city was consequently founded in 1887 and was called Addis Ababa ('New Flower') by the empress.

The city was the capital of Italian East Africa during the brief occupation from 1935-1941. It began its rise to megacity status between 1967 and 1975 when rural to urban migration in Ethiopia was at its peak.

Addis Ababa is very hilly, and sits more than 2,200 meters high, 9 degrees north of the Equator. Nestled in the central mountain region, in Shewa Province, on the western ridge of the Great Rift Valley,Addis Ababa is the third highest city in the world.

Built in the foothills of Mount Entoto, the panorama of Addis Ababa from the 3,200 meter peak , either by day or night, is a breath taking spectacle. The neighbouring Church of St Mary (1885) overlooks the entire city and the surrounding area.

Addis Ababa sits in the centre of international communication nets, with air links to more than 80 cities worldwide. It has a healthy mountain climate, mild temperatures, and warm sunshine that makes it a popular hub for international conferences. Addis Ababa has the headquarters and branch offices of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, as well as seven other international organizations.

The airport at Bole is a 10-minute drive from downtown, close to ministries in the heart of the city's best hotel, restaurant and shopping district, close to the historic Africa Hall and the Offices of the African Union Commission. There is easy and comfortable transport by shuttle bus and Taxis between the airport and other locations in the city.

The train service of the Addis Ababa/Djibouti Railroad terminates at the celebrated Addis Ababa Railway Station. A wide network of roads, most of them all-weather highways, link Addis Ababa with all the regional centers and most other towns in Ethiopia, as well as with Kenya, Sudan, Somalia, Djibouti and Eritrea .

Places to vist in Addis Ababa include the Emperor Menelik II Palace (not yet open for public ), the Menelik Mausoleum, Africa Hall(permission required), the octagon-shaped St. George Cathedral, Jubilee Palace, Trinity Cathedral, the Ethnological Museum (located on the main campus of Addis Ababa University), the National Archeological Museum, The Old Imperial Lion Zoo and Markato . There are also historical monuments to visit while you drive through the city.Some of them include Abune Petros Memorial, The Lion of Judah Monument,Victory Monument( Meyazia 27 Square-Arat Kilo), Martyrs monument -Sidist Kilo,and Menelik II Square .

Nightlife, including many cinemas, theatres, casinos and bars, provides entertainment until the early hours.

The languages spoken in Addis include dozens of African languages (Amharic is the most common), English, Arabic, Italian and French. Popular festivals include Timket (Epiphany), Enkutatash (the Ethiopian New Year), Maskal, Gena (Christmas), Id and Easter.    
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