I’m no expert photographer. I only take snaps using my phone. But what am I going to do with all the content I’ve taken so far? Post it here!

I was fortunate enough to go to Addis Ababa for work. It is the capital of Ethiopia and its largest city. I have a long list of countries to cross in my African checklist and Ethiopia was the second.

What surprised me the most about the capital was how elevated it is (and therefore how cold it can get.) The lowest point is 2,300 meters above sea level at the Bole International Airport, while the highest is at 3,000 meters above sea level at the Entoto Mountains.

If you want to look at the places I visited in Addis Ababa, you can click this link.

In the meantime, here are five pictures I took while visiting Addis Ababa:

The first thought that comes to mind for many people when Ethiopia is mentioned – coffee. And the taste lived up to the expectations … and more. The cups are also one of a kind. A colleague of mine couldn’t help but take a set back home. Not everyone caved on buying additions to their tableware. But all of us had coffee grounds in our luggage.

I’m a fan of flags. And my friend’s husband collects them religiously – the first one I’ve met. Listening to his adventures during the trip is an experience in itself.

Back to flags – most people don’t know what an Ethiopian flag looks like. And it’s a tragedy considering the country has a more vibrant and symbolic image embedded in it compared to most that are just made of coloured stripes.

On my last weekend in Addis Ababa, I stumbled upon this building and decided to enter the establishment. It was a public library where Ethiopians read up and/or study. The inside looks modern but the book collection was anything but.

The experience reminded me of my privilege. The world has come far. And it still needs to go a long way in giving people of the world equal access to opportunities.

I am not the biggest fan of injeras (the Ethiopian version of crepe). But the dish, and all the meat and vegetables alongside it, was inescapable.

In all establishments catering to tourists wanting to try local cuisine, this was the default serving. And to have it for 3 weeks is quite a big ask for my taste buds that prefer diversity. And I gave up on it after three or four occasions.

I travel to explore and learn. And honey wine is a drink I’ve never tasted in my life. While not a favorite, I don’t hate it either. Drinking it is definitely a must try experience.

All photos were taken on October/November 2022.