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Saturday Market
Lalibela’s Saturday Market is quite large.
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Shoa Gate Market
Elbow your way through the Shoa Gate Market (also known as the Christian Market) to find etan (incense) from the Jijiga area; it’s used in the famous coffee ceremonies. This odoriferous market also has spices and bark, roots and twigs used in the preparation of traditional medicine
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Governor’s House
Obock is where French colonialism all began. In 1862, the Afar sultans of Obock sold their land to the French, and construction of the town began. But it was soon eclipsed by Djibouti City. All that remains of its past glory as the capital is the governor’s house (the first officia
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Komaya Heart of Konso Cultural Handicraft Market
This beautiful hilltop spot is a developing project (Komaya Heart of Konso Cultural Handicraft Market Market) to provide an income for local craftspeople. There’s a weaving workshop and other craft demonstrations, a cafe and, of course, a shop. The turn-off is across from the Dokat
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Palace of Haile Selassie
Two and a half kilometres south of the memorial is Bezawit Hill. Its summit hosts a former palace of Haile Selassie, which isn’t open to visitors and can’t be photographed. Viewpoints both in front and behind offer panoramic views over the lake, river and town. They’re great at sun
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Ethiopia
Rail fans can clamber through what remains of the once great Imperial Railway Company of Ethiopia. Ask in room three of the project office and you’ll be rewarded with an ID badge and a guided tour (tip expected) of rusty carcasses of disused engines, the still-operational roundhous
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Blue Nile Bridge
You can only reach the famous outlet of the Blue Nile by boat, but you can get pretty close along the Gonder road, 2km past the post office, where a bridge spans the river. You can see the dam that has ruined Tis Abay Falls and maybe some hippos and crocodiles. There are many tankw
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Martyrs Memorial Monument
Just past the bridge is a large Martyrs Memorial Monument dedicated to those who died fighting the Derg. Its fountain cascading down to the Blue Nile is quite the sight, especially if someone is having a wedding here and has paid to turn it on. The museum is full of photos, some la
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Main Market
If you are allergic to scenic lakesides and love dusty action, visit the large and lively main market. It’s busiest on Saturday. Getting lost is half the fun. The delightful agelgil are no longer sold in the market; they’re mostly sold by the makers near the tourist office. Some so
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Market
Jinka’s famous Saturday market, the largest in the region, sits 300m northwest of the roundabout. It attracts a variety of ethnic groups including Ari, Banna, Mursi and sometimes Bashada. Though smaller and significantly less colourful the rest of the week, when it’s mostly just th
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Arbatu Ensessa
On the way to Yemrehanna Kristos, around 35km from Lalibela, is this three-quarter monolith church in a wild, overgrown but rather beautiful setting. It’s thought to have been built by King Kaleb in AD 518. Arbatu ensessa means ‘the four beasts’ after the four Evangelists, Matthew,
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Jamia Mosque
Harar’s great mosque is the only one inside the wall big enough to host both men and women. The mosque was built in the 16th century, though according to local tradition, a mosque has stood on the site since the 12th century. While not architecturally distinct, its white-tile minar
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Central Market
Hargeisa’s centrepiece, the expansive central market is a wonderful (and largely hassle-free) place to experience a typical Somali market. Its lanes hide everything from perfume to household objects, electronic goods, wind-up radios and clothes. The food vendors have some of the mo
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Abuna Gebre Mikael
Though not visited very often, this is considered one of Gheralta’s finest churches. The cruciform plan is hewn into a domelike rock and it has good unfaded frescoes and carefully carved columns, pillars, cupolas and arches. It’s around 15km southwest of Abuna Yemata Guh and requir
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Wolega Museum
The remains of an Italian military plane shot down by the Black Lion Patriots in 1935 proudly sits in front of the Wolega Museum. Inside, displays give a good insight into the Wolega Oromo life and culture. It contains traditional musical instruments, as well as displays of the loc
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Dugem Selassie
Built into a small outcrop rather than a big hill, this church feels like a tomb and may have been one before being converted. The 19th-century ‘new’ church alongside it is partially cut from the rock and topped by plastered stone construction, which is easily distinguished because
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Arabtu Ensessa Church
The ‘Four Beasts’ Church, named after the writers of the Biblical Gospels, was rebuilt in the 1950s and is worth a look for the wonderful murals (most modern, but a few old) covering nearly every inch of the interior. The saints and angels on the ceiling are particularly delightful
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South
Perched on a hill northeast of town (look for the green roof), the museum is good but also disappointing. There are several interesting exhibitions, particularly the Q&A with women from across the region, but there’s really very little background information on the groups, and
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Azuwa Maryam
The thatch roof atop the church at Azuwa Maryam helps make it the best looking church on Zege (currently Bete Maryam is the only other church with thatch), though its paintings and small museum are more ordinary. Don’t miss the religious school for priests and deacons here. Azuwa M
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Abba Liqanos
On the way to Pentalewon you’ll pass Abba Liqanos Monastery (men only), which again was supposedly built by one of the Nine Saints and also boasts excellent views. But there’s no treasure to see; the modern church (a replacement for the one destroyed by the Derg when the area was o
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