Ethiopia
A Country That Almost Made Me Like CoffeeThere are moments in life that redefine you. Like the first time you ride a bicycle, the first time you travel alone, or—if you’re me—the first time you taste coffee in Ethiopia and still don’t like it. Yes, despite all the reverence surrounding Ethiopian coffee, despite the sacred ritual of the coffee ceremony, despite the insistence that I simply hadn’t had the right cup yet, I remained a skeptic.
The Road Trip: Rolling Hills and Realizations
No visit to Ethiopia is complete without escaping the capital and heading into the countryside. As we drove out, the urban sprawl melted into vast, rolling landscapes dotted with acacia trees, grazing cattle, and villages where life moves to a rhythm dictated by nature, not by smartphones. The air felt fresher, the colors richer, and the silence deeper. There’s something about watching life unfold in its simplest form—children herding goats, farmers plowing fields with oxen, women carrying bundles of firewood—that reminds you how little you really need to be content.
- Food 100%
- Coffee 40%
- Dancing 95%
- The People 100%
The Coffee That Didn’t Change My Mind
Ethiopia is the birthplace of coffee, so naturally, I was expected to have an epiphany over a cup of the good stuff. The traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony is not your hurried, grab-a-latte-and-run experience. It’s a ritual, a slow, methodical art form that involves roasting the beans, grinding them by hand, and brewing the coffee over charcoal. I watched, I sipped, I acknowledged the depth of its flavors—and I remained unmoved. A fascinating cultural experience, yes, but life-changing? Not quite.
The Weather: Perfection on a Thermometer
If you’ve ever wondered what perfect weather feels like, book a ticket to Ethiopia. The days are warm but not scorching, the evenings cool but not freezing, and there’s always a soft breeze that makes you feel like you’re in a perpetual travel documentary where people just casually stroll around looking effortlessly content. Addis Ababa, sitting pretty at 2,300 meters above sea level, serves up a climate so lovely that I found myself walking around with an air of smugness, mentally judging every other place in the world for not having such balanced weather.
Ethiopian Food: A Culinary Marathon
Ethiopian food doesn’t just feed you; it demands participation. Injera, the spongy, sour flatbread that serves as both plate and utensil, is the foundation of every meal, soaking up every drop of richly spiced wot (stew). I threw myself into dishes like doro wat (chicken stew), shiro (chickpea stew), and kitfo (minced raw meat seasoned with butter and spices). Eating with my hands made the experience more immersive, though my technique likely looked more like an enthusiastic attempt at sculpting rather than a respectable dining practice.
Ethiopian Dance: A Lesson in Humility
If you think you can dance, Ethiopian traditional dance is here to challenge that notion. Eskista, the shoulder-shaking dance that seems effortless when locals do it, is deceptively difficult. I tried—oh, I tried—but what felt like a graceful display of cultural appreciation in my mind was, in reality, a series of awkward spasms that concerned onlookers. The locals were kind enough to encourage my attempts, though I suspect their amusement was as much a factor as their generosity.
A Trip Worth Every Sip (Even If Coffee Didn’t Win Me Over)
Ethiopia surprised me in the best ways possible. It offered me rich history, breathtaking landscapes, and a culinary experience unlike any other. And while it didn’t manage to turn me into a coffee enthusiast, I can still appreciate the art, tradition, and pride that go into every cup. Ethiopia isn’t just a place you visit—it’s a place that challenges your expectations, whether in the form of a strong brew or a dance that defies anatomy.
Ethiopian art at the local market
Traditional Ethiopian Church
Underground church formed into a rock
Amazing church
This keeps the church cool
The church is carved into a rock underground
the church bell
The Church cross on top of the church
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