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From the first humanoid, Lucy, to present-day travelers looking for historical and cultural gems, Addis Ababa is still "The Original Home of Humankind." Scientists identify the city as the origin of humans before spreading across the globe. Some millennia after this historic migration, the third highest city in the world continues to be a melting pot of at least 80 different nationalities, perpetually stirring the city's mix of old and new: rundown huts alongside luxuriant hotels, medieval-clad priests talking to high-heeled diplomats, and azmaris (singer-musicians) belting out centuries-old melodies in futuristic nightclubs.
Upon landing on the city's international airport, the largest in Africa, travelers usually hunt and haggle for cheap hotel rooms before riding on blue lada taxis, the most common way to tour the capital. Very few streets have names and when they do, they are not properly indicated on the map so to get around, many tourists look for landmarks such as the Ethiopian National Museum, where Lucy's replica can be seen. Other sites such as Ethiopian Ethnological Museum (a former palace) and Ethiopian Natural History Museum are also good starting points to get acquainted with Ethiopian heritage.
The Shiro Meda is where traditional craftsmen sell pots and other essentials for the home. The market is at the foot of Entoto Mountains, which has a hiking trail leading to farmland summits that show the whole city's panorama, including the peaks of its churches like St. George's Cathedral and Savior of the World Cathedral, Africa's second largest.
One of the city's famous squares is Meskel, where an annual festival is held to commemorate Queen Helena's finding of the "True Cross." On ordinary days, a similar festive mood envelops Merkato, the world's largest outdoor market offering sundry goods like fabrics and metal sculptures. Nearby is Anwar Mosque, Ethiopia's biggest mosque, which represents the centuries-old harmony between Christians and Muslims since it is just nearby the Orthodox Raquel Church.
The world's largest pre-fabricated building is Shengo Hall, which was formed in Finland before being assembled in Addis Ababa. Apart from international conferences that have made Addis Ababa the "Capital of Africa," volunteering is a favorite activity in the city as it is a hub of over 120 international missions promoting a higher standard of living among children.
Addis Ababa photography
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