A Surprise Trip to Ethiopia: I Didn't Expect It to Be Like This

Ethiopia was not on my list of places to visit at first. Like a lot of people I knew the name had seen pictures of Lalibela and the Simien Mountains and had heard a lot about coffee.. I did not really know what the trip would be like.

That was probably what made it so interesting.

The First Surprise Was Addis Ababa

My first impression of Addis Ababa was that there was a lot more happening than I had thought. The city is lively. It is not just about cars and buildings. There are cafés, markets, restaurants and people doing their everyday things everywhere. I found myself spending time just walking around and looking at everything.

Ethiopian Food Became Part of the Experience

One of the ways to learn about a place is by trying its food and Ethiopia made that very clear.

Injera was something I needed to get used to at first. Eating it with different stews and vegetables soon became one of the things I really looked forward to. Ethiopian coffee was another thing I really enjoyed. Coffee ceremonies are not about drinking coffee; they can be a social moment and a chance to take things slowly.

Lalibela Was Different From Anything I'd Seen

Pictures do not really get you ready for Lalibela.

The rock hewn churches of Lalibela are really something. What I remembered the most was the feeling around the churches of Lalibela.

I saw people going to the churches of Lalibela and doing their things, which made the old place of Lalibela feel like more than just a place that people visit when they are on vacation.

The Landscapes Kept Changing

I was really surprised by how different Ethiopia's from one place to another.The mountains around Simien are totally different from the area around Addis Ababa.Lake Tana is very peaceful and quiet.

Places like Gondar have a lot of history. Show you what Ethiopia was like a long time ago.

When I was traveling in Ethiopia it did not feel like I was just going to one tourist spot after another.

I got to see a lot of things and experience what Ethiopia is really like.

A Little Planning Goes a Long Way

Ethiopia is not the kind of place where I would suggest showing up with no plans at all. Before going I would look into the recent entry rules to check that my passport is still valid and make sure I have the right visa.

The latest information about the tourist visa says that a passport needs to be valid for at least six months, from the day I plan to enter and I need a recent passport photo as well.

For travellers researching the paperwork, there are also online resources such as Ethiopia eVisa information, although travellers should always compare any third-party information with the current Ethiopian government's official requirements.

Would I Go Again?

Yes, probably.

I think what made Ethiopia really stick in my mind was not one thing. It was all the things I saw and did like the history and the food and the landscapes and just everyday life in Ethiopia. I went to Ethiopia thinking it would be a trip where I see a lot of sights and that is it.. When I came back from Ethiopia I felt like I had experienced a lot more than that.

Sometimes the trips that you do not plan out much are the ones that surprise you the most, about Ethiopia and other places.