About three years ago, my brother visited Ethiopia and Kenya in December and met a girl. Two years ago, we met her for the first time for New Year’s in Dubai. And in late 2017, just after Christmas, we flew to Ethiopia for their wedding!
Because we were traveling specifically for the wedding, we didn’t have a lot of extra time to go to other parts of the country for sightseeing, and Addis Ababa is not the ideal place for sightseeing within Ethiopia. So, please, if you do visit Ethiopia, make sure you schedule time in other parts of the country! And if you’re interested in taking a hot air balloon ride during your visit, check out Abyssinia Ballooning, which is operated by the man who performed the wedding ceremony.
Unfortunately, our trip didn’t start off on the best foot. We had issues as soon as we got onto the plane for our red-eye from Bahrain—people were sitting in our seats, and refused to move. The flight attendant wouldn’t help, and instead moved us to different seats that were much more cramped. Then, because we arrived at the domestic terminal, we had trouble finding where we needed to go to get our visas. After standing in the wrong line for a while, we figured it out, and then went outside to find the driver we had arranged to take us to the hotel… but he wasn’t there. We stood in an insane cluster of people outside the airport for a while before deciding we needed a taxi. So, we were exhausted and overwhelmed by the time we finally arrived at the hotel.
Luckily, things improved quickly once we met up with my family and Scott’s friends and headed to a local restaurant for dinner. 2000 Habesha is what is called a “cultural restaurant,” which means they serve traditional Ethiopian food, and musicians and dancers perform traditional Ethiopian songs and dances while you eat. It was a great way to kick off the visit (on a much better note!).
The next day was the wedding, which was at a restaurant and event venue in Debre Zeyt, southeast of Addis Ababa. The ceremony started a few hours later than we thought it was supposed to start, which we learned is pretty typical in Ethiopia, but it was beautiful and the reception was very fun, with tons of dancing!
The day after the Western-style wedding, there was a cultural ceremony planned for dinner time. This turned out to be similar to the cultural restaurant we went to the first night, in that it had traditional Ethiopian food and dancers/performers, but it was a private event, just for the two families. The bridal party and the families also wore traditional Ethiopian clothing for the dinner and ceremony.
Unfortunately, Toby and I both got very sick the morning after the Western-style wedding, so we didn’t do anything the day of the cultural ceremony, and we were still pretty sick the day after. We did manage to go to Tomoca coffee, though, which I would HIGHLY recommend if you are even in Addis Ababa for a few hours.
My parents and Toby and I also attempted to visit the Holy Trinity Church, but when we got there, the guard told us there was a service happening inside, and he wouldn’t allow us to walk up near the outside of the church. However, we had a lot of communication difficulties with our cab driver and the guard, so if you’re planning to visit, you will probably be able to actually see the church. Just make sure you get all of the information from a hotel concierge or tour guide/company ahead of time.
Despite getting incredibly sick and having some other snafus during the trip, we enjoyed visiting Ethiopia and had a wonderful time at the wedding and cultural ceremony! I just wish we had been able to visit some other parts of the country as well.
Where to stay in Addis Ababa
Budget: Monarch: This is where my brother and his friends stayed, and they were able to get a great rate through the hotel itself (Scott tells me your best bet is to call directly). There is a bar and restaurant you walk through to get into the hotel, and it’s in an area with a bunch of shops and restaurants, which is convenient.
Mid-level: Marriott Executive Apartments: This is where we stayed, and my parents also stayed. It’s a pretty nice hotel with a restaurant and pool, and the staff are very friendly (though they were the ones who forgot to send a driver to pick us up from the airport). The Red Terror Martyrs Memorial Museum and Meskal Square are within walking distance of the hotel, but most other things you’ll want to visit will require a cab ride.
Luxury: Sheraton Addis: None of us stayed at this hotel, but we did go for dinner one night and it was absolutely gorgeous. We’d definitely pick this one for next time.
Other considerations
If you’re from a Western country, be very careful not to ingest the water, even when brushing your teeth or taking a shower. Avoid raw vegetables and fruits that you have not cut yourself, and also avoid ice cubes. Coffee and tea are fine, since they are made with boiled water. Also be aware that kitfo, a traditional Ethiopian food, is raw beef. However, if you do get sick, a local pharmacy can give you antibiotics to help clear things up without a prescription.
