Tag Archives: Ethiopia

Similarities between Hebrew and Amharic

My journey to Ethiopia was actually two journeys. I’ve already written about one, and the one I have yet to write about actually began on the Ethiopian Airlines jet that took me to Addis Ababa. As soon as I boarded … Continue reading

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Ethiopia and Jews

The relationship between Ethiopia and Jews is complex enough to fill entire books, so don’t consider this post as a comprehensive source on this matter. Most of y’all have probably heard of the Falashas. The State of Israel airlifted most … Continue reading

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There are no homosexuals in Ethiopia

I count, among my many talents, the ability to make people feel uncomfortable by asking awkward questions, or by telling random stories at inappropriate times. But in Ethiopia, anyone can do it! All you have to do is bring up … Continue reading

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Melka Kunture, Lake Ziway, another rock-hewn church and a fish market

There are many important archeological digs in Ethiopia. One of these sites is Melka Kunture, which we (I was with a British tourist) visited. The site features a museum, which consists of several modest structures and some replica bones. We … Continue reading

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The villages of Danakil

Our journey to the salt mines, and Erta Ale volcano, took us through a few villages. My understanding was that these were mixed Tigre/ Afar villages. They are very conservative, and the locals didn’t always appreciate our roaming around shooting … Continue reading

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Lalibela

As in other Ethiopian points of interest, the journey was almost as interesting as the destination itself. Here are some photos I shot on the way to Lalibela: Lalibela is famous for its 11 stone-cut churches. I’ll quote Wikipedia: Lalibela … Continue reading

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The road back to Addis and the "Merkato"

The drive back to Addis Ababa, from Harar, took a long time. It’s only one lane in each direction, and there are a lot of trucks in Ethiopia. One thing I noticed, almost from the beginning, is the shocking number … Continue reading

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Harar: At the crossroads of civilizations

There was a communication lapse regarding my drive to Harar, from Addis Ababa, and I was stranded in a God-forsaken area near the coffin market for a couple of hours. It seemed I would not get to Harar in time … Continue reading

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The Karo and the Mursi (DANGER!!! Nudity!!!!!!!!!!)

Unlike the Hamer, or the Khonso or the Dorze, the Mursi tribe has no organized way of dealing with tourism. This is a shame, considering that they’re arguably the most interesting tribe in Ethiopia; they’re famous for their plate-lipped women, … Continue reading

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The treasure that belongs to those who have nothing

I once wrote about a lone Bedouin I happened across in the Judean desert. I was impressed by the simplicity of his existence. His lonely days in the desert had rendered him free of the personality pollutants that afflict the … Continue reading

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