Wikitravel - Changes related to "Aksum" [en]

Addis Ababa

2013-05-21T08:43:29Z

‎Embassies: Added British Emassy

Addis Ababa

2013-05-18T13:08:51Z

‎Budget:

Addis Ababa

2013-05-16T18:31:22Z

‎Stay safe:

Ethiopia

2013-05-16T17:50:02Z

‎Stay safe:

Tigray

2013-05-15T20:33:50Z

‎Talk:

Addis Ababa

2013-05-15T06:52:00Z

‎Mid-range:

Wikitravel:How to edit a page

2013-05-15T06:15:55Z

‎Using the check boxes:

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:43, 21 May 2013
Line 428:		Line 428:

	===Embassies===		===Embassies===
		+	* [[Image:uk-flag.png\|20px]] <listing name="United Kingdom" url="https://www.gov.uk/government/world/organisations/british-embassy-addis-ababa" address="British Embassy Addis Ababa. Comoros Street Addis Ababa, PO Box 858. Ethiopia." phone="+251 11 661 2354"></listing>

	* [[Image:ca-flag.png\|20px]] <listing name="Canada" url="http://www.canadainternational.gc.ca/ethiopia-ethiopie/splash.aspx" address="Old Airport Area, Nefas Silk Lafto Sub City, Kebeli 04, House No. 122" phone="+251 11 3713022"></listing>		* [[Image:ca-flag.png\|20px]] <listing name="Canada" url="http://www.canadainternational.gc.ca/ethiopia-ethiopie/splash.aspx" address="Old Airport Area, Nefas Silk Lafto Sub City, Kebeli 04, House No. 122" phone="+251 11 3713022"></listing>

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:08, 18 May 2013
Line 319:		Line 319:

	Please note, many of the prices below are a few years old, you can expect everything to be at least twice more expensive		Please note, many of the prices below are a few years old, you can expect everything to be at least twice more expensive
		+
		+	* '''Atelefugne''', Kera across from Dashen Bank, Walking distance from State-of-the-art African Union Headquarters, ☎ +251 14167342. +251 91 2190328 +251 91 3188460, (''[mailto:atelefugne@gmail.com]''). Terrace with a view, very friendly staff and convenient. Restaurant on site, and hot water showers. Antique & Affordable, with a decent value. From USD 15 (single, shared bath/shower) USD 30 (spacious en-suite).
		+

	*'''Park Hotel''', a cheapy starting at 20 Birr, the rooms aren't exactly clean		*'''Park Hotel''', a cheapy starting at 20 Birr, the rooms aren't exactly clean

@@ Line 19: / Line 19: @@
 There are two terminals. T1 (the older, smaller one) is for all domestic flights and most flights to neighbouring nations (but not Kenya). T2 (the newer 2003 building) is for all other international flights - arrangements may change so check first.
-As of July 2012 access into the terminals is restricted. Anyone at the airport to meet you, plus taxis, will be out in the carpark. A dozen of the top hotels still have a booth inside the arrivals area. Similar rules apply at the other airports in the country, for both arrivals and departures.
+As of July 2012 access into the terminals is restricted. Anyone at the airport to meet you, plus taxis, will be out in the carpark. A dozen of the top hotels still have a booth inside the arrivals area. Similar rules apply at the other airports in the country, for both arrivals and departures.  Most hotels will pick you up for free - inquire at booking.
 ===By car===
@@ Line 69: / Line 69: @@
 Blue and white minibuses/taxis travel quite efficiently around the town. Since they are full of people most of the time, it is very cheap too, usually between 1-3 Birr depending on how far you are going. To catch a minibus, stand on the side of the road and hail it. This can be done anywhere it is possible for the bus to stop. The conductor inside will call out the destination, and if that's where you want to go: get on. You pay the conductor when he signals to you that he wants money (which might take a few minutes) to get change. To get out say "woraj alle", or just "woraj". It is worth having an Ethiopian guide with you if it is your first time using these taxis, since it can be quite chaotic to find out which minibuses go where, and from what places.
-Small, blue coloured Lada taxis are more expensive. Negotiation is the norm and you often have to press quite hard to get a bargain as a foreigner. They can be contracted for a single trip, an hour, or a full day; just negotiate. Do not be surprised if the price of the taxi increases at night for the same trip. JULY 2011: the taxi prices for contract taxis in the info box here are WAY OUT OF DATE. Airport to city is now 100-150 birr.
+Small, blue coloured Lada taxis are more expensive. Negotiation is the norm and you often have to press quite hard to get a bargain as a foreigner. They can be contracted for a single trip, an hour, or a full day; just negotiate. Do not be surprised if the price of the taxi increases at night for the same trip. JULY 2011: the taxi prices for contract taxis in the info box here are WAY OUT OF DATE. Airport to city is now 100-150 birr.  Hiring a car for a day-trip will be quite expensive as well - including a trip to Mt. Entoto to see St. Mary Church and the other sites from above, expect to pay 900birr.
 Yellow and green taxis usually hang around hotels like the Sheraton. They are more expensive, but reliable, and if you're willing to pay for peace of mind, slightly better drivers and a car that wasn't featured in the Flintstones (comfortable ride and vehicle usually in good working order). Use these cars.
@@ Line 79: / Line 79: @@
 Walking along the street starting from Meskel Sq. to Sidest Kilo is very safe and entertaining. It will give you the chance to see the Africa Hall, the palaces and the Parliament building, the Hilton Hotel, the marvelous architectural adventure of a building hosting the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Sheraton Hotel,  the first modern school (which Menelik the II built in the 1880s), the Trinity Orthodox Cathedral, the National Museum, and the Addis Ababa University (which also hosts a former palace and museum). Arat Kilo Avenue is marked by a statue built in commemoration of the Ethiopian V-day during the Second World War, while Sidest Kilo Avenue is marked by a statue commemorating the 39,000 residents of Addis Ababa killed by Italian fascist troops. Around Arat Kilo, you will find part of an old town known as Serategna Sefer (literally, the residential area of laborers). If you want to proceed past Sidest Kilo, the road becomes steeper and many of the attractions will be on the right side of the road. The Entoto College (previously Teferi Mekonnen School) and the American Embassy are found on this side of the street. After the American Embassy there is an open market called Shiro Meda where traditional craftsmen sell their homemade fabrics, pots and other crafts. The marketplace is at the foot of the Entoto Mountains that rise up to 3,300 m (10,827 ft) above sea level. You can take a taxi or a bus to the mountain unless you are of a mind to try it yourself. On the mountain, you will find the first churches of Addis Ababa called St. Mary and St. Raguel as well as smaller palace of Menelik the II. Walking on the mountain, especially between the churches, is refreshing and gives you the chance to see rural life, the city itself, forest and unbelievably beautiful landscape intersected by farmlands and trails of farmers. It is from here that Menelik II and Queen Taitu conceived of the establishment Addis Ababa. You can get a sense of the city plan yourself by looking from here at the current city.
-* <see name="Ethiopian National Museum" [http://www.addismap.com/a44049497/national-museum] alt="" address="" directions="Between Arat Kilo Avenue and the University of Addis Ababa Graduate School" phone="" email="" fax="" url="" hours="" price="">Although the museum is unknown to most, the Ethiopian National Museum is a world-class museum; truly a hidden gem! The most famous exhibit is the replica of Lucy, an early hominid, but the museum offers much more. With Ethiopian civilization being one of the oldest in the world, the artifacts within the museum span thousands of years, including some from its earliest days. A wide variety of artifacts are featured, from sculptures to clothing to artwork. Both traditional and modern art are featured.</see>
+* <see name="Ethiopian National Museum" [http://www.addismap.com/a44049497/national-museum] alt="" address="" directions="Between Arat Kilo Avenue and the University of Addis Ababa Graduate School" phone="" email="" fax="" url="" hours="" price="">Although the museum is unknown to most, the Ethiopian National Museum is a world-class museum; truly a hidden gem! The most famous exhibit is the replica of Lucy, an early hominid, but the museum offers much more. With Ethiopian civilization being one of the oldest in the world, the artifacts within the museum span thousands of years, including some from its earliest days. A wide variety of artifacts are featured, from sculptures to clothing to artwork. Both traditional and modern art are featured.  Well worth a visit.</see>
-* <see name="Red Terror Museum (2010)" alt="" address="Bole Rd" directions="very near Maskal Square end" phone="" url="" hours="" price="Free" lat="" long="" email="" fax=""></see>
+* <see name="Red Terror Museum (2010)" alt="" address="Bole Rd" directions="very near Maskal Square end" phone="" url="" hours="" price="Free" lat="" long="" email="" fax="">This is a must-see to learn about the horrors of the Derg that led to the well known famine of the 1990's.  Entry is free, but well worth a donation here.  Most of the employees are survivors of the regime themselves and will tell you stories about facing torture at the hands of those who still run free today</see>
 * <see name="Africa Hall" alt="" address="" directions="located across Menelik II Avenue from the Palace" phone="" email="" fax="" url="" hours="" price="">This is where the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa is headquartered as well as most UN offices in Ethiopia. It is also the site of the founding of the Organization for African Unity (OAU) which eventually became the African Union. </see>
@@ Line 136: / Line 136: @@
 *'''Addis Ababa Golf Club'''.
-*'''Entoto Mountain''': walk from St. Mary's church, the first church of Addis and St Urael church and see the city itself from the top of the mountain.
+*'''Entoto Mountain''': walk from St. Mary's church, the first church of Addis and St Urael church and see the city itself from the top of the mountain.  If planning to hiring a car - caution that it's difficult for a foreigner to get better than 900birr (a fortune!).  Walking is a great way to make it, but will take a good half day.
 ==Learn==
@@ Line 165: / Line 165: @@
 *'''Mercato'''.  The mercato (Italian for market, as the main covered market still in use dates from the colonial administration of the late 1930s) is the largest outdoor market in the world, and you can get anything from tourist goods (t-shirts, wood crafts, etc.) to fabric to metal goods there.  Haggling and bargaining are standard procedure, and foreigners (especially those of European ancestry) should expect to be charged higher prices.  To ensure a positive experience, maintain a sense of humour, don't be afraid to negotiate aggressively, and above all don't let yourself be bullied by the many "brokers" who frequent the market, and will try to steer you towards certain stores in exchange for a kick-back from the merchant.  You will be able to negotiate lower prices if you can avoid brokers, and especially if you have a local friend or guide to buy things on your behalf.
 *'''Shiromeda Market'''. Between Sidist Kilo & Mt Entoto. If the madness of Mercato isn't for you, Chiromeda is a pleasant alternative. Haggling and bargaining is still the status quo, but you could walk away with a traditional dress from as cheap as 100 ETB.
@@ Line 230: / Line 232: @@
 ===Mid-range===
 *<eat name="Buffet de la Gare" alt="" address="" directions="" phone="+251 11 517888" url="" checkin="" checkout="" price="" lat="" long="" tollfree="" phoneextra="+251 11 517125" email="" fax="+251 11 515959"></eat>
@@ Line 260: / Line 263: @@
 ===Splurge===
 *'''Fisherman Restaurant'''.  Mickey Leland St, (''near Atlas Hotel''). Is a half-Chinese, half-Tibetan restaurant specialising in seafood and serving an excellent range of Asian cuisine..
@@ Line 280: / Line 284: @@
 If you want to drink the national drink of Ethiopia, you have to try the 'tej' which brewed from honey. You can also try 'tela' which is like a beer.
 *'''Liquid Lounge'''. Kazanches, Nigist Towers Building, (''right next to the Intercontinental hotel''). Teppanyaki (food cooked in front of you) Sushi from fish imported everyday. Fairly expensive.  This place is very trendy, they have VIP areas upstairs . On the weekends it gets busy.
@@ Line 306: / Line 311: @@
 *<drink name="Jewel of India" alt="" address="" directions="" phone="" url="" hours="" price="" lat="" long="">Good delicious Indian/south indian foods
 </drink>
 ==Sleep==
@@ Line 341: / Line 345: @@
 ===Mid-range===
 * '''Axum''', Haile Gebresilassie Rd, ☎ +251 11 188832.
@@ Line 407: / Line 413: @@
 *In a total difference of other African cities, in Addis-Ababa, police officers ''never'' approach foreigners to ask them to present a passport, ID or "legal" papers. Once you show your passport at the airport, you are free to move around pretty much anywhere. The only time you need your passport or ID is for hotel registration (booking) and other similar and few instances. (It is important to have your ID with you at all times, however.) Many visitors appreciate that they don't have to be questioned who they are or where they are from by a police officer who wants to extract bribe money from them, every time they turn around. This could be one of Addis-Ababa's appeals.
 ==Cope==

@@ Line 146: / Line 146: @@
 Ethiopian Airlines is one of the most successful and reputable airlines in Africa. Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa is the main hub for Ethiopian Airlines and also hosts Lufthansa, Sudan Airways, Kenya Airways, British Airways, KLM, Turkish Airways, Emirates, Gulf Air, Egypt Air and Fly Dubai. A new runway and international terminal, which was said to be the largest in Africa, opened in 2003.
 '''CAUTION''': Arriving in the country without a major currency such as euros or US dollars is not recommended, especially if one has not obtained a visa prior to arrival. Travellers cheques and cash can be exchanged at the airport.
@@ Line 179: / Line 181: @@
 Ethiopian Airlines [http://www.ethiopianairlines.com] is reasonably priced and has fairly comprehensive domestic services.  Flights are often overbooked, so it is essential to reconfirm your tickets at least a day in advance and show up at the airport on time. If you forget to reconfirm, they will assume you aren't going to show up and may give away your seats.
-'''Tip''': Booking tickets for Ethiopian Airlines online can be very expensive when compared with booking at their office in Addis Ababa. For example, the route Addis -> Gonder -> Lallibella -> Addis was quoted online for $450 whereas at their booking office (at the Hilton in Addis) the ticket cost only $150.
+'''Tip''': Booking tickets for Ethiopian Airlines online can be very expensive when compared with booking at their office in Addis Ababa. For example, the route Addis -> Gonder -> Lallibella -> Addis was quoted online for $450 whereas at their booking office (at the Hilton in Addis) the ticket cost only $150.  As of May2013 this was not the case - R/T flight from Addis/Lalibela was quite expensive at $330pp, regardless of whether you booked online or at the office in person.
 ===By bus===
@@ Line 412: / Line 414: @@
 *Travellers with vehicles and cyclists may often be the target of stoning by local youths when driving in rural areas.
 ==Stay healthy==

@@ Line 11: / Line 11: @@
 ==Understand==
-The province of Tigray is influential in regards Ethiopian culture and history, and is the area of the country where most NGO's are situated and most war has been fought. It is the home of the Tigray people; they use Tigrinya as their mother tongue. The situation between Tigray, Eritrea and Ethiopia is complicated. As the uprising against the Derg Regime started in [[Aksum]] the area was involved in twenty years of war ending with bloodshed between Eritrea and Ethiopia year 2000. Still Tigray is a part of Ethiopia even though Eritrea is a part of the Tigray region, dividing families and groups into two countries. Nowadays there are few assaults between the two countries, but as of March 2012 there were minor clashes between Ethiopian and Eritrean soldiers creating great tension in the region. However, traveling the main road between the two biggest cities [[Mekele]] and Aksum should be little trouble.
+The province of Amhara is most influential in regards Ethiopian culture and history, and Tigray is where most NGO's are situated and most war has been fought. It is the home of the Tigray people; they use Amharic as their mother tongue. The situation between Tigray, Eritrea and Ethiopia is complicated. As the uprising against the Derg Regime started in [[Aksum]] the area was involved in twenty years of war ending with bloodshed between Eritrea and Ethiopia year 2000. Still Tigray is a part of Ethiopia even though Eritrea is not a part of the Tigray region. Nowadays there are few assaults between the two countries, but as of March 2012 there were minor clashes between Ethiopian and Eritrean soldiers creating great tension in the region. However, traveling the main road between the two biggest cities [[Mekele]] and Aksum should be little trouble.
-The question whether Tigray should be independent or a part of Ethiopia is a tense subject which provokes arguments and grudges. The general opinion is that being a part of Ethiopia is better than being a part of Eritrea due to the Eritrean dictator Isaias Afwerki, infamous for his mistreatment of fellow Tigray people and families. Nowadays both the government and the international community have tried to create a safe living environment and a fresh start for the province, making [[Mekele]] one of the most charming cities of the country, with newly renovated cobblestone roads, small shops, cafés and many hospitals. The university in the city has a fairly good reputation for being one of the best schools of technology in the country. It is indeed a lively city.
+The question whether Tigray should be independent or a part of Ethiopia is a tense subject which provokes arguments and grudges. The general opinion is that being a part of Ethiopia is better in order to loot it of its resources.  Nowadays the international community have tried to feed the poor people of Mekele one of the most charming cities of the country, At the creation of Ethiopia, during the time of Queen of Sheba until the creation of Lalibela, [[Aksum]] served as the capital for almost 2000 years. A lot of Ethiopian culture, religion and history has been created here. Due to war and threat from Muslims who had conquered Somalia and Yemen, the new capital was built in the mountains out of range of the Muslim armies. This made Tigray slowly be forgotten until the 19th century when Emperor Yohannes IV decided to move the capital away from [[Gondar]] to Mekele where the greatest salt fields in Africa were located, making Tigray important again. The money the salt export provided Ethiopia bought weapons via the help of French traders in Harar (one of them being Rimbaud)in conjunction with Russian support against the Italians at the battle of [[Adwa]] in 1896, making Ethiopia the first country in Africa not colonised.
-−
 At the creation of Ethiopia, during the time of Queen of Sheba until the creation of Lalibela, [[Aksum]] served as the capital for almost 2000 years. A lot of Ethiopian culture, religion and history has been created here. Due to war and threat from Muslims who had conquered Somalia and Yemen, the new capital was built in the mountains out of range of the Muslim armies. This made Tigray slowly be forgotten until the 19th century when Emperor Yohannes IV decided to move the capital away from [[Gondar]] to Mekele where the greatest salt fields in Africa were located, making Tigray important again. The money the salt export provided Ethiopia bought weapons via the help of French traders in Harar (one of them being Rimbaud)in conjunction with Russian support against the Italians at the battle of [[Adwa]] in 1896, making Ethiopia the first country in Africa not colonised.
 ==Talk==
-The official languages are Tigrinya and Amharic. In the countryside most of the people will not speak any other language than Tigrinya as the region consists of more than 95 % Tigray people. English is spoken by many in the cities.
+The official language is suprisingly Amharic. Even in the countryside most of the people will not speak any other language other than Amharic, although the region consists of more than 95 % Tigray people. English is spoken by many in the cities.
 ==Get in==
@@ Line 43: / Line 41: @@
 ==Get out==

@@ Line 245: / Line 245: @@
 *'''The Limetree'''. Bole Rd, Boston Partners Building. While Ethiopian food is delicious there comes a time when you might want to try something else. Extensive menu, ranging from Arabic to Ethiopian food. They do have a consistency which is quite hard to find here. Own brand of coffee, which is a bitter version of the Ethiopian coffee you find, but if this appeals to you then you can not find this coffee anywhere else.
-*'''Sishu''': Churchill Ave, (''by National Bank. Pass through Ministry of Urban Development and Construction and the Ethiopian Teachers' Association''). Fabulous burgers, nice salads and juices. Designed like a livingroom, with a little bookstore. They serve American coffee online.
+*<eat name="Sishu" alt="" address="Pushkin Ave" directions="in the building behind Worke's Promise building, on Pushkin Ave between Sarbet and the abbatoir" phone="+251 930 034 150 " url="" checkin="" checkout="" price="" lat="" long="" tollfree="" phoneextra="" email="" fax="">Fabulous burgers. A local favourite. New location in Kera neighbourhood.</eat>
 * '''Addis Cuisine'''. Wollo Sefer. (''Bole end of Ethio Chinese Friendship Rd,on the north side of 6 lane road''). Good western and Ethiopian food.

@@ Line 17: / Line 17: @@
 If you are [[Special:userlogin|logged in]] to a [[Wikitravel:How to create a user account|user account]] there will be a '''This is a minor edit''' checkbox for marking your changes as "minor". The idea with this is that people reviewing page history or recent changes can filter out unimportant changes. It's up to you to determine what makes your changes "minor" -- usually, spelling corrections, grammar, or formatting changes are "minor", and changes to the real information on a page are not.
-The '''Watch this article''' checkbox puts this article on your [[Wikitravel:Watchlist help|watchlist]]. Any changes to the article, or to the article's talk page, by you or anyone else will show up in your watchlist, so you can keep an eye on the article.
+The '''Watch this article''' checkbox puts this article on your ''[[Wikitravel:Watchlist help|Watchlist]]''. Any changes to the article, or to the article's talk page, by you or anyone else will show up in your Watchlist, so you can keep an eye on the article.
-The default setting -- whether these checkboxes are checked or not by default -- can be set in your [[Wikitravel:User preferences help|user preferences]].
+The default setting -- whether these checkboxes are checked or not by default -- can be set in your user ''[[Wikitravel:User preferences help|Preferences]]''.
 ==Starting new pages==
-If you are starting a new page from scratch, please make use of our '''[[Wikitravel:Article templates|templates]]''' which helps to organize the information on a page and give a consistent look. See [[Wikitravel:How to start a new page]] for more information.
+If you are starting a new page from scratch, please make use of our '''[[Wikitravel:Article templates|Article templates]]''' which help to organise the information on a page and give a consistent look. See [[Wikitravel:How to start a new page]] for more information.
 ==Restoring previous article versions==
-If an editor changes or removes content from an article the old versions of the article are still available from the article's history.  To view article history, click on the "history" tab for any article, then click on the date for the revision that you are interested in.  To revert the article to the specified revision, simply click on the "edit" tab while viewing the old version and then re-save the version.  Alternately, if you just want to revert a single edit click on the "undo" link from an article's history next to the edit that is being reverted.
+If an editor changes or removes content from an article the old versions of the article are still available from the article's history.  To view article history, click on the "'''View history'''" tab for any article, then click on the date for the revision that you are interested in. To revert the article to the specified revision, simply click on the "edit" tab while viewing the old version and then re-save the version.  Alternately, if you just want to revert a single edit click on the "undo" link from an article's history next to the edit that is being reverted.
 ==See also==