Anybody here been to Ethiopia?

[theNotoriousP.I.G.]

I may be traveling there soon and I don't know anything about the country. My main concerns are: will my debit card/visa card work there so I don't have to carry cash and will I be able to eat western food/cold water/beer/wine?

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. My dear theNotoriousP.I.G.!

Ah, never been there!

I hear it's beautiful, and relatively safe, as these things go...

Check with your bank on your debit/visa card questions...

When are you going?

Take lots of pictures!


:hug:

[theNotoriousP.I.G.]

3. As these things go?

I'm scared now!

I'm not sure when we will be going...it depends on the adoption officials. I'm accompanying a friend...It will be quite an adventure for me. I will take lots of pics. Thanks

[Kali]

2. is this a joke?

hope so:crazy: :rofl:

[theNotoriousP.I.G.]

4. Not a joke

Why would you assume that?

[Kali]

5. I didn't assume, I asked.

Why would you be traveling there? Why the question about "western" food?

edit to say: you posted it in the DU lounge, that is why one might assume it were a joke. I see above you are going for an adoption. May I suggest googling "travel ethiopia"? I tend to recommend the Lonely Planet forum (the Thorn Tree) for the sorts of questions you are asking.

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/index.jspa

[theNotoriousP.I.G.]

6. A good friend in adopting a child

from Ethiopia and has asked me to go with her.

[Chan790]

8. A link to the US State Dept. Factsheet and advisories and some personal thoughts.

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1113.html

1.) No on Visa or Debit. It's a poor country where as much commerce is barter as currency-based. Most places will not accept US currency and legitimate/reputable exchange locations are rare. Don't carry large amounts of cash. The primary Western-targeted crime is pickpockets. Pretty much all non-trash souvenir items require a permit for export from the government in order to prevent antiquities smuggling, especially of things like crosses(as an ancient base of the Coptic church, some religious artifacts still used today are more than 1500 years old.) Export of coffee, the main crop of Ethiopia is more or less off-limits except to brokers and commodities merchants...which is too bad as it's far and away the best coffee in the world. A pound of real high-grade Sidamo or Yergacheffe is $$$.

2.) Ethiopia is fairly safe though the border regions (to Sudan, Eritrea and Somalia in particular) can be a bit hairy. Likewise, the open-air market in Addis Ababa is a lot like the wild west.

3.) No on Western food unless you're staying close to or in the areas set up to cater to Western businesspeople. That would in some large part defeat the point of going. Don't worry, the local cuisine is yummy...a lot of preserved/spiced meats, a lot of thick stews like Doro Watt(it's a brownish "broken" (meaning of an inconsistent liquid texture) chicken stew.), like most Ethiopian food, it's eaten by scooping it up with a piece of flatbread. Don't drink the water and if you find alcohol of any sort, I'd be shocked. Only eat/drink food in places that look clean...sanitation is not to US standards.

(Never been, preparing for the day when I can go.)

[theNotoriousP.I.G.]

9. Thank you so much!

for that link.

[Kali]

11. eh, I would be shocked if you COULN'T find alcohol anywhere

hell, you can even get it in Utah.:rofl: it's pretty much a human necessity, despite all attempts over time and religion to prevent it.

[crispini]

7. Dude! Why would you WANT western food?

Ethiopian food is TDF! My absolutely favorite cuisine hands down. Ummmmmm. See if you can go to Lalibela while you're there. The pictures are lovely.

[theNotoriousP.I.G.]

10. I'm just hedging my bets here

I don't know what to expect but if the local food is safe, I'm more likely to eat that than Western food. It's a total unknown to me. I'm looking forward to the adventure.

[XemaSab]

12. I've heard it's beautiful

and can you bring some food back please? :9