Biggest Tip Ever:
Coffee. Buy what you think you will want and thendouble it. no triple it. Seriously. I ALWAYS wish I had purchased more. You will love it. We have purchased Tomoca and Aster Bunna (harder to find, phone number is 5159315/5500913). We gave so much as gifts and used it up much quicker than expected. And nothing seems to compare here.
Best tour guides/friends in Ethiopia:
Fekadu Hailu and his partner Eyuel Hosana. You can email Fekadu at hailufekadu@yahoo.com or find Fekadu on facebook (tell him Charisa sent you) They helped me so much while in Ethiopia--especially when it was Bekah and I there without Greg. They took us to the hospital with the baby, checked on us, and made sure we were always safe. And we learned so much about Ethiopia and her culture with them. We became fast friends and laughed ALOT. :) Love these guys.
They can help you tour around Addis and other trips outside of Addis. Feel free to email me for references from others as well. (note: they are not just a driver but a true guide to Ethiopia)
Fekadu with Teshale Eyuel (Joel) and I
Restaurants:
Yod Abysina was a great cultural restaurant! We loved the food and dancing! Fekadu and Eyuel were great to explain what region each dance was from and the food. Loved it there.
yummy food Bekah was not impressed with tej (honey wine)
Island Breeze was nice and yummy!
Lucy's was an outdoor relaxing place to eat as well. Yummy pizza!
Two Italian restaurants that I can't remember the name of. Both were yummy (had a great leek soup at one) I will post the names as soon as I remember :)
Places to go:
While we were there we visited several places. We stayed around Addis because we didn't want to miss a day at the Care Center and our trip for Embassy was super short (arrived on Tuesday and left Friday evening) so we didn't have too much time. Greg and Josh plan to go back soon to visit Awassa and other areas.
We loved Entoto Mountain and the history that surrounds it. Make sure to go to the museum at the top and also stop and get your picture taken. It is a beautiful view when it isn't cloudy! Some local boys will also try to sell you some hats and will be riding a handmade go-cart that frankly, scared the daylights out of me! I was so scared a car was going to hit them! :) Be sure to stop at the Former Women Fuel Carrier's Association on the way down to buy some beautiful scarves!!
ladies making scarves! museum on Entoto
Bekah trying her hand at it! :)
The other family, us, and Fekadu on Entoto (cloudy day= not great view!)
Better view! :) from court trip.
The Trinity Cathedral that Haile Selassie is buried in is beautiful. It is also a quiet place to be away from the hustle of the city. The gardens surrounding it are beautiful.
Be sure to choose a ministry that you love and visit it! We went to Restoration Orphanage that we learned about from Ordinary Hero. It was a beautiful place and a testimony of God's faithfulness to the obedient and willing. Our Rachel was so touched by our pictures that she sold dog treats to raise funds to help the children. It will definitely be a stop on the next trip!
Church! Be sure to experience church! We were blessed to go to church with Fekadu (a Compassion sponsored church (Amharic service) and LOVED it. We felt very welcome and were even encouraged by the Pastor. You have to experience Ethiopian worship!
Fistula Hospital One of the places that I wanted to go on our first trip but didn't get to was the Fistula Hospital. I was so blessed and humbled to go this time. Be sure to watch A Walk to Beautiful (also on Netlfix) and read Hospital Beside the River first. You have to email and get an appointment first. They also welcome donations.
Shopping
We did most of our shopping at the markets on Churchhill.
We also went to the shop at the Leprosy Hospital and bought scarves. They also had many other things such as clothes and tableclothes. Beautiful pieces.
Scarves we bought at the Former Women's Fuel Carriers Assoc. Many many colors to choose from! Bekah even was able to try to make one! :)
We bough kolo (and Ethiopian snack) and spices in bulk for a great price at one of the markets.
We went to an Antiquities shop in the mercato and bought a painting of the story of Queen of Sheba and King Solomon.
We also purchased items at the Fistula Hospital that the women make while recovering.
Our favorite things? Ethiopian soccer jerseys for the boys and jewlery, the pot that bunna is made in (have yet to try it though but I love the look of it. (if you plan to buy one of these clay type things--take padding/foam for the flight home!), jewlery for the girls, pictures made out of banana leaves, wooden animals for the kiddos.
What I wished I purchased? A silver orthodox cross. thought about it and meant to do it but forgot.
So glad I did? Came home and found a child to sponsor in Addis with Compassion International. Love Compassion.
More to come as I get time :)
Coffee. Buy what you think you will want and then
Best tour guides/friends in Ethiopia:
Fekadu Hailu and his partner Eyuel Hosana. You can email Fekadu at hailufekadu@yahoo.com or find Fekadu on facebook (tell him Charisa sent you) They helped me so much while in Ethiopia--especially when it was Bekah and I there without Greg. They took us to the hospital with the baby, checked on us, and made sure we were always safe. And we learned so much about Ethiopia and her culture with them. We became fast friends and laughed ALOT. :) Love these guys.
They can help you tour around Addis and other trips outside of Addis. Feel free to email me for references from others as well. (note: they are not just a driver but a true guide to Ethiopia)
Fekadu with Teshale Eyuel (Joel) and I
Restaurants:
Yod Abysina was a great cultural restaurant! We loved the food and dancing! Fekadu and Eyuel were great to explain what region each dance was from and the food. Loved it there.
yummy food Bekah was not impressed with tej (honey wine)
Island Breeze was nice and yummy!
Lucy's was an outdoor relaxing place to eat as well. Yummy pizza!
Two Italian restaurants that I can't remember the name of. Both were yummy (had a great leek soup at one) I will post the names as soon as I remember :)
Places to go:
While we were there we visited several places. We stayed around Addis because we didn't want to miss a day at the Care Center and our trip for Embassy was super short (arrived on Tuesday and left Friday evening) so we didn't have too much time. Greg and Josh plan to go back soon to visit Awassa and other areas.
We loved Entoto Mountain and the history that surrounds it. Make sure to go to the museum at the top and also stop and get your picture taken. It is a beautiful view when it isn't cloudy! Some local boys will also try to sell you some hats and will be riding a handmade go-cart that frankly, scared the daylights out of me! I was so scared a car was going to hit them! :) Be sure to stop at the Former Women Fuel Carrier's Association on the way down to buy some beautiful scarves!!
ladies making scarves! museum on Entoto
Bekah trying her hand at it! :)
The other family, us, and Fekadu on Entoto (cloudy day= not great view!)
Better view! :) from court trip.The Trinity Cathedral that Haile Selassie is buried in is beautiful. It is also a quiet place to be away from the hustle of the city. The gardens surrounding it are beautiful.
Be sure to choose a ministry that you love and visit it! We went to Restoration Orphanage that we learned about from Ordinary Hero. It was a beautiful place and a testimony of God's faithfulness to the obedient and willing. Our Rachel was so touched by our pictures that she sold dog treats to raise funds to help the children. It will definitely be a stop on the next trip!
Church! Be sure to experience church! We were blessed to go to church with Fekadu (a Compassion sponsored church (Amharic service) and LOVED it. We felt very welcome and were even encouraged by the Pastor. You have to experience Ethiopian worship!
Fistula Hospital One of the places that I wanted to go on our first trip but didn't get to was the Fistula Hospital. I was so blessed and humbled to go this time. Be sure to watch A Walk to Beautiful (also on Netlfix) and read Hospital Beside the River first. You have to email and get an appointment first. They also welcome donations.
Shopping
We did most of our shopping at the markets on Churchhill.
We also went to the shop at the Leprosy Hospital and bought scarves. They also had many other things such as clothes and tableclothes. Beautiful pieces.
Scarves we bought at the Former Women's Fuel Carriers Assoc. Many many colors to choose from! Bekah even was able to try to make one! :)
We bough kolo (and Ethiopian snack) and spices in bulk for a great price at one of the markets.
We went to an Antiquities shop in the mercato and bought a painting of the story of Queen of Sheba and King Solomon.
We also purchased items at the Fistula Hospital that the women make while recovering.
Our favorite things? Ethiopian soccer jerseys for the boys and jewlery, the pot that bunna is made in (have yet to try it though but I love the look of it. (if you plan to buy one of these clay type things--take padding/foam for the flight home!), jewlery for the girls, pictures made out of banana leaves, wooden animals for the kiddos.
What I wished I purchased? A silver orthodox cross. thought about it and meant to do it but forgot.
So glad I did? Came home and found a child to sponsor in Addis with Compassion International. Love Compassion.
More to come as I get time :)
